The son of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has produced his American passport before a court in Abuja as proceedings continued in a controversial $2.1m (£1.6m) land dispute.
Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike presented the document before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Wednesday, following an earlier order by Justice Sylvanus Oriji.
The passport was sought after Mr Wike told the court during cross-examination that he was outside Nigeria on 26 September 2025 – the date the claimants say they paid him $2.1m in connection with a proposed land transaction.
The case, marked CV/008/2026, was brought by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
The claimants allege that Mr Wike agreed to facilitate the acquisition of 30 hectares of land in Katampe and another 30 hectares in Guzape, two areas of Abuja.
They allege that he demanded $2.1m as a facilitation fee, with $2m purportedly intended for his father and $100,000 for himself.
According to the claimants, the money was handed over in cash on 26 September 2025 in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Mr Wike was accompanied by Onor Sandy.
They claim that the proposed land acquisition was not completed and that the money was not refunded.
Mr Wike has denied the allegations, saying he did not know the claimants and disputing the alleged payment and documents relied upon in the case.
His defence maintains that he was outside Nigeria on the date in question and travelled from Abuja to London on a British Airways flight. He has also disputed the authenticity of an alleged acknowledgement of receipt.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr Wike was asked which passport he used to travel outside Nigeria. He told the court that he travelled with his American passport and said he could produce it if required.
Counsel for the claimants, Hamza Dantani, subsequently applied for an order compelling him to produce the document. Justice Oriji granted the application.
The court also directed Mr Wike to write his full name and signature five times each on a plain sheet of paper, following an application by the claimants’ counsel. The defence did not oppose the request.
The passport is expected to form part of the evidence concerning Mr Wike’s whereabouts at the time of the alleged transaction.
The court has continued to hear competing accounts from the two sides, with Mr Wike represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ogwu Onoja.
The case remains ongoing and the allegations against Mr Wike have not been established by a final judgment. (peoplesvoice.ng)
