Explosive allegations have emerged claiming that Jordan Wike, the 25-year-old son of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, was allocated 1,740 hectares of prime Abuja land valued at approximately $2.85 billion, according to a report published Tuesday.
The land, allegedly transferred through a shell company, Jordan Farms and Estates Ltd., has sparked accusations of nepotism and corruption, intensifying scrutiny of the minister’s tenure.
The report, citing official land documents and internal memos, alleges that Wike personally oversaw the allocation, mirroring a previous claim that his younger son, Joaquin, received 2,082 hectares worth $3.6 billion. Together, the Wike brothers reportedly now control nearly 3,822 hectares, totalling an estimated $6.45 billion in prime FCT land, including areas like Maitama and Guzape.
The documents suggest some plots were seized from original owners under questionable pretexts, with one example highlighting a statutory fee slashed from 807 million naira ($500,000) to 100 million naira ($62,000), with only 10 million naira paid.
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Wike, appointed FCT minister in 2023 under President Bola Tinubu, has denied the allegations, calling them an attempt to tarnish his reputation. In a statement released Tuesday via his senior special assistant, Lere Olayinka, the minister insisted no land was allocated to his children.
Arguing that the company’s name is coincidental and not proof of ownership. “That one of the sons of the FCT Minister is Jordan, and there is a company, Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, which is no reason to conclude that the company belongs to Wike’s son,” the statement read.
The scandal comes as Nigeria ranks 145th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, reflecting widespread public sector graft. Land disputes, which the World Bank notes account for 70% of legal cases in Nigeria, add urgency to the claims, with critics pointing to a pattern of enrichment amid Wike’s public promises to reform education.
President Tinubu ordered a probe into similar allegations involving Joaquin last month, though details remain under wraps. Anti-corruption activist Lanre Suraju called for transparency, warning of undermined investigations due to political loyalty. Social media reactions range from outrage to resignation, with users like @AdeyinkaKanmi lamenting, “Nigerians will read this, make small noise, and life goes on.”
The FCT ministry has not responded to requests for comment as of 9:20 p.m. WAT Tuesday.
