The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has found himself embroiled in a fresh controversy over allegations of secret acquisition of multimillion-dollar properties in Florida, USA.
According to reports, Wike attempted to amend his asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to include the properties, but was informed that his original declaration had already been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for thorough verification and investigation.
Sources close to the minister revealed that Wike was unsettled by the development, which could potentially lead to a forensic audit of his financial dealings. Investigations by some media outlets uncovered a pattern of concealment and alleged violations of Nigeria’s asset declaration laws by the minister. Records obtained showed that Wike acquired a $2 million mansion in Winter Springs, Florida, registered under the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, and their three children.
Further investigations revealed that three multimillion-dollar homes in affluent Florida communities were purchased covertly using cash transactions and swiftly transferred to their children via quitclaim deeds, executed by Wike’s wife. These transactions, spanning from 2021 to 2023, raised suspicions of attempts to keep assets beyond the regulatory grasp of Nigerian anti-corruption bodies.
The CCB informed Wike that his file had already been transmitted to the EFCC for verification, and the anti-graft agency is now conducting a forensic audit of Wike’s declarations, ownership details, and possible infractions. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), advocacy groups, and international NGOs have launched campaigns demanding an exhaustive probe into Wike’s financial dealings, citing suspected diversion of public funds and illicit enrichment.
Wike’s camp has denied the allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated attacks. However, documentary evidence filed in US property registries tells a different story. An EFCC source said the minister is “playing with fire” and that the ongoing forensic financial investigations will uncover the truth. As the investigation unfolds, Wike’s reputation and future hang in the balance.
