Wike’s Son Speaks On $2.1m Controversial Land Deal

Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied receiving $2.1 million from a businessman for an Abuja real estate deal, testifying before an FCT High Court that his signature on documents linking him to the transaction was forged.

Jordan, a legal practitioner, also told the court that he has no acquaintance with one of the individuals the claimants alleged accompanied him when the supposed cash transaction occurred.

He made the statements on Wednesday during cross-examination in his defense against a lawsuit instituted by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited concerning an alleged aborted property arrangement.

The suit, registered as CV/008/2026, is being heard before Justice Silvanus Oriji at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

The claimants are seeking the recovery of $2.1 million which they allege was handed over to Jordan regarding a proposed housing development venture involving land in the Katampe and Guzape districts.

Jordan has maintained a firm denial of receiving the funds or entering into any commercial relationship with the claimants.

During Wednesday’s session, he disputed the authenticity of a joint venture contract bearing a signature attributed to him.

Upon being shown the document during cross-examination, Jordan testified that the signature appearing as his was a forgery.

“I did not receive any money from anybody. I did not sign any document for land deal, I only found out that my signature was on the land document just like anyone else in this court yesterday (Tuesday),” he said.

He added, “I never had any friend named Onor Sandy and I did not have any deal with anyone regarding land deal”.

The testimony follows an order issued a day prior by Justice Oriji requiring Jordan to present his American passport after he informed the court that he was out of the country on September 26, 2025—the date the claimants asserted the $2.1 million cash exchange took place.

Jordan presented the passport in court on Wednesday. His defense counsel subsequently prayed the court to retain a copy on file while returning the original document to the defendant, a request granted by the judge on the condition that the original passport be produced whenever demanded.

According to the claimants, they first met Jordan in London in 2023 before developing a business relationship.

They stated that Jordan later introduced an Abuja housing project in 2025, leading to a joint venture agreement where Jordan was to provide land while Garba pledged $4.2 million for construction.

The proposed venture reportedly covered 1.7 hectares in Guzape and 1.5 hectares in Katampe New Extension, with anticipated profits from housing sales to be distributed on a 60-40 basis in favor of Garba.

Garba stated that Apostle Associate Limited, Kano, drafted the contract on his behalf, while Jordan introduced Creekstone General Contractor Limited to execute the construction.

Garba alleged that following pressure from Jordan, he paid $2.1 million in cash for two plots at a residential location in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on September 26, 2025, in the presence of witnesses Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki, and Sai Wani, adding that Jordan was accompanied by Onor Sandy.

He further claimed an acknowledgment form was executed by Jordan with his National Identification Number and passport details attached.

Jordan has refuted this narrative. The claimants stated that after the funds were released, Jordan became inaccessible, leading them to discover the plots belonged to another developer already preparing the site.

Garba stated that efforts to secure a refund led to repeated postponements and a complete collapse in communication, prompting a formal demand letter on October 31, 2025, and subsequent legal action.

During Wednesday’s cross-examination, claimant counsel Ibrahim Waru confronted Jordan with a transcript of an October 17, 2025 voice note, previously admitted as Exhibit 7, asking if financial matters were discussed.

Jordan responded, “Yes, that is what appears here.” He nonetheless insisted he had no physical encounter with Garba on September 26, 2025.

When shown the disputed contract and asked to identify the witness signature, Jordan identified it as belonging to Sandy but reiterated that he did not know the individual.

Asked if he had filed a police report regarding the alleged forgery, Jordan answered, “No.”

The relief sought by the claimants includes a court order directing Jordan to refund $2.1 million with a 10 percent post-judgment interest rate until fully liquidated, alongside N100 million in general damages for alleged psychological distress and legal costs.

The statement of claim also noted that after recovery efforts failed, Garba reported the matter directly to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, alleging the minister dismissed the complaint and handed him over to police authorities. The court has not made any finding of liability against Jordan or his father in the ongoing civil proceedings.

During the session, Jordan’s lead counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), adopted his client’s written statement on oath denying all claims and documentation.

The defense subsequently requested an adjournment to subpoena additional witnesses. With no opposition from the claimants, Justice Oriji adjourned the case to December 1, 2, and 14, 2026, for the continuation of trial.