Wike’s son, Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, has denied collecting $2.1m in an alleged Abuja land deal, telling an FCT High Court that his signature on documents linking him to the transaction was forged.
Jordan, a lawyer, also denied knowing one of the men the claimants alleged was present when the huge cash payment was made.
He made the denial on Wednesday while giving evidence in a suit filed by businessman Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited over an alleged failed property transaction.
The case, marked CV/008/2026, is before Justice Silvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The claimants are demanding the return of $2.1m, which they allege they paid Jordan in connection with a proposed property development involving land in Guzape and Katampe New Extension.
But Jordan has denied receiving the money or entering into the alleged transaction.
When shown a disputed agreement during cross-examination, he told the court that the signature attributed to him was not genuine.
“I did not receive any money from anybody. I did not sign any document for land deal,” Jordan said.
He added that he only became aware that his signature appeared on the document when the matter came before the court.
Jordan also denied knowing a man identified as Onor Sandy, whom the claimants said accompanied him during the alleged payment.
“I never had any friend named Onor Sandy and I did not have any deal with anyone regarding land deal,” he said.
$2.1M CASH PAYMENT
The claimants’ case is that they met Jordan in London in 2023 and later entered into discussions over a real estate venture in Abuja.
According to their statement of claim, the proposed joint venture involved 1.7 hectares in Guzape and 1.5 hectares in Katampe New Extension.
The arrangement allegedly required Garba to provide $4.2m for development, while Jordan was to contribute the land.
The parties were allegedly to share the proceeds from the completed properties on a 60-40 basis, with Garba receiving 60 per cent and Jordan 40 per cent.
The claimants further alleged that they later paid Jordan $2.1m for two plots after he allegedly represented that he had the authority to provide the land.
They said the money was handed over in cash at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on September 26, 2025.
According to their account, several people were present, including Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was allegedly accompanied by Sandy.
The claimants also alleged that an acknowledgement form was signed and that Jordan’s National Identification Number and passport details were attached to the document.
Jordan has rejected the account.
‘I WASN’T IN NIGERIA’
The alleged payment date has also become a major point in the courtroom battle.
On Tuesday, Justice Oriji ordered Jordan to produce his American passport after he told the court that he was outside Nigeria on September 26, 2025, the date the claimants said the $2.1m was handed over.
Jordan produced the passport in court on Wednesday.
His lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, subsequently asked that a photocopy be retained in the court file while the original remained with his client.
The judge granted the request but ordered that the original passport be produced whenever required.
LAND DEAL COLLAPSES
The claimants alleged that their problems started after the alleged payment.
Garba said he later discovered that the land was not owned by Jordan and that another company was already preparing to develop the sites.
He alleged that attempts to recover the money from Jordan failed, with meetings repeatedly postponed and communication eventually breaking down.
The claimants said they formally demanded a refund on October 31, 2025, but received no satisfactory response.
They subsequently approached the court.
The claimants are seeking the return of the $2.1m, plus 10 per cent interest from the date of judgment until payment.
They are also demanding N100m in damages, alleging that the dispute caused them “unnecessary trauma and psychological imbalances”.
VOICE NOTE, SIGNATURES IN COURT
A transcript of a voice note dated October 17, 2025, already admitted as Exhibit 7, also featured during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Claimants’ counsel, Ibrahim Waru, questioned Jordan about whether money was discussed in the conversation.
Jordan acknowledged that the transcript contained such a discussion but maintained that he did not physically meet Garba on September 26, 2025.
Waru also confronted him with the disputed agreement.
Jordan identified the signature said to belong to Sandy but insisted that he did not know the man.
Asked whether he had reported the alleged forgery to the police, Jordan answered “No.”
He also denied knowing another person identified as Salisu.
Wike DRAGGED INTO DISPUTE
The case has also drawn attention because of Jordan’s relationship with his father, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The claimants alleged that after their attempts to recover the money failed, Garba approached the minister to complain about the transaction.
Garba alleged that Wike rejected the complaint and referred him to the police.
However, the allegations against Jordan and the minister have not been established by the court. The dispute remains an ongoing civil case.
Jordan has adopted his statement on oath denying the claims and the documents allegedly linking him to the transaction.
His defence has also sought time to subpoena witnesses.
Justice Oriji, with no objection from the claimants, granted the request and adjourned the case to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The central battle before the court now is whether Jordan received the alleged $2.1m and whether the documents relied upon by the claimants, including the disputed signature, are genuine.
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