Jordan Wike, son of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, has presented his American passport at the FCT High Court in Abuja as part of his defence in a suit involving a $2.1 million Abuja land allocation scam. The suit was instituted by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, who alleged that Mr Wike received $2.1 million in cash from them to help facilitate the acquisition of hectares of land in two choice areas of Abuja.
The claimants, Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, alleged that they met Mr Wike in London and established a relationship, leading to Mr Wike agreeing to acquire 30 hectares of land at Katampe and Guzape for a fee of $2.1 million. They claimed that Mr Wike allegedly told them that $2 million was for his father, the minister, and $100,000 for himself. The claimants said they delivered the $2.1 million in cash to Mr Wike on 26 September 2025 in the presence of witnesses.
Mr Wike has denied receiving money from the claimants, stating that he was not in Nigeria on the said date, as he had travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport. However, the claimants maintained that they delivered the money to Mr Wike, who went "incommunicado" after receiving it. They later discovered that the plots were owned by a company preparing to develop them and demanded a refund on 31 October 2025, but received no positive response, prompting them to institute the suit to recover their money.
During Monday's proceedings, Mr Wike, led by his lawyer Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), adopted his statement on oath against the suit. His lawyer tendered documents through him, and Mr Wike maintained his innocence during cross-examination by the claimants' lawyer, Hamza Dantani. The claimants' lawyer then applied to the court to ask Mr Wike to write his full name and signature on a plain paper five times each, which the court granted.
Fielding further questions, Mr Wike was asked where he was on 26 September 2025 and responded that he was outside the country, travelling with his American passport. He said he could produce the passport if asked. The claimants' lawyer applied to the court to compel Mr Wike to produce his American passport in court, a request the judge granted, adjourning the matter until Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Mr Wike presented his American passport to the court, as ordered by the judge, Sylvanus Oriji. The presentation of the passport is part of the ongoing trial, with the court yet to determine the next steps in the case. Mr Wike's father, the FCT Minister, has been involved in previous land acquisition controversies.
The case raises questions about the involvement of public officials in land acquisition deals and the use of foreign passports to travel abroad. The court is expected to continue hearing the case in the coming weeks, with the outcome likely to have implications for Mr Wike, his father, and the parties involved in the land acquisition deal.
Key points
- Jordan Wike submitted his American passport to the FCT High Court in Abuja.
- The passport was presented as part of his defence in a $2.1 million land allocation scam case.
- The case involves allegations that Mr Wike received $2.1 million from claimants to facilitate land acquisition in Abuja.
