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• Produces US passport in court as trial resumes December
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied receiving $2.1 million over an alleged Abuja land deal, insisting that his signature on documents presented by the claimants was forged.
Jordan, a lawyer, made the denial on Wednesday during cross-examination by counsel to the claimants, Hamza Dantani, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
He also denied knowing the claimants, Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, or having any business dealings with them.
“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,” he told the court.
Jordan also denied knowing an individual identified as Onor Sandy, whom the claimants alleged accompanied him during the transaction.
“I never had any friend named Onor Sandy and I did not have any deal with anyone regarding land deal,” he said.
The suit arose from allegations that Jordan demanded $2.1 million to facilitate the acquisition of two parcels of land measuring 30 hectares each in Katampe and Guzape districts of Abuja.
The claimants alleged that $2 million of the sum was meant for the FCT minister, while the remaining $100,000 was Jordan’s personal facilitation fee.
They further claimed that the money was paid in cash on September 26, 2025, in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, with Jordan allegedly accompanied by Sandy.
According to the claimants, the transaction was not completed, and the money was not refunded.
Jordan, however, denied the allegations, maintaining that he was outside Nigeria when the purported payment was made.
At an earlier sitting, he told the court that he had travelled abroad on his American passport. Following the testimony, Dantani applied for an order compelling him to produce the document to support his claim.
Justice Oriji granted the application, and Jordan produced the passport at Wednesday’s proceedings. A copy was retained for the court’s records, while the original was returned, with the defence directed to produce it whenever required.
The passport was produced after the claimants’ counsel had also obtained an order directing Jordan to write his full name and signature five times each on plain sheets of paper to facilitate examination of the disputed signature. The defence did not oppose the application.
Jordan, who is represented by Ogwu Onoja, SAN, had earlier adopted his statement on oath, denying the allegations and maintaining that he had never met the claimants in Nigeria, London or elsewhere.
In his court filings, he also challenged the acknowledgment document allegedly bearing his signature, arguing that the passport number on it was not his current number and related to a passport that expired in 2022.
He described the allegations as an attempt to blackmail his father and extort money from him.
The claimants also alleged that a joint venture agreement dated October 17, 2025, was entered into by them, Jordan and two companies, Apostle Associate Limited and Creekstone General Contractor Ltd, for the construction of 24 six-bedroom fully detached duplexes in Guzape New Extension and Katampe New Extension.
Under the alleged agreement, the claimants were to contribute $4.2 million, equivalent to N6.3 billion, while Jordan was expected to provide the land. They further alleged that he insisted on payment in United States dollars.
Jordan has denied the transaction and the alleged payment. His defence has also challenged the claimants’ account of the payment date, maintaining that he was travelling from Abuja to London aboard a British Airways flight around the period in question.
The court has yet to determine whether the alleged payment was made, whether the disputed signature is genuine or whether Jordan was involved in the purported land transaction.
Justice Oriji adjourned the case, marked CV/008/2026, to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
