The claimants in the suit alleged that the minister’s son received $2.1 million in cash last year to help facilitate the acquisition of hectares of land in two choice areas of Abuja.
Jordan Wike, son of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, presented his American passport at the FCT High Court in Abuja in continuation of his defence in a suit regarding a failed $2.1 million real estate venture.
The suit was initiated by Safwan Garba alongside his company, G.Y. Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited. They claimed the minister’s son accepted a $2.1 million cash sum from them last year to fund a venture requiring him to supply land for building commercial residential properties.
The judge, Sylvanus Oriji, ordered Mr Wike, the minister’s son, on Monday to produce his American passport following a dispute over his whereabouts on 25 October 2025, the date Mr Garba specified the minister’s son received $2.1 million cash from them at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Mr Wike, who denied receiving money from the claimants or having any dealing with them, had told the court on Monday that he was not in Nigeria on the said date, saying he had travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport.
But the claimants maintained that they delivered the money to Mr Wike after they struck a real estate deal in the aftermath of their earlier meeting in London.
They alleged that Mr Wike agreed to contribute hectares of land at Katampe and Guzape.
The claimants said they delivered the $2.1 million in cash to Mr Wike on 26 September 2025 at a residence in Gwarimpa, in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani.
They also said Onor Sandy, who accompanied Mr Wike, was present when the minister’s son allegedly received the money.
According to the claimants, Mr Wike, whose father previously served as Rivers State governor before becoming FCT minister, went “incommunicado” after receiving the money.
The claimants said they later discovered that the plots were owned by a company, which was preparing to begin developing them.
They said they demanded a refund on 31 October 2025, but got no positive response, prompting them to institute their suit to recover their money.
But Mr Wike denied the allegations, Sahara Reporters reported.
During proceedings earlier held on Monday, Mr Wike, led by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), adopted his statement on oath opposing the suit.
His lawyer tendered some documents as part of his defence.
Mr Wike maintained his innocence during cross-examination by the claimants’ lawyer, Ibrahim Waru. He denied any knowledge of the entire transaction.
The claimants’ lawyer, Mr Dantani, then asked Mr Wike to write his full name and signature five times each on a plain paper. The defence did not oppose the application, which the court granted promptly.
Continuing cross-examination, the claimants’ lawyer asked Mr Wike where he was on 26 September 2025. Responding, he said he was outside the country, and in response to another question, stated he travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport. The minister’s son offered to produce his American passport if necessary.
Mr Waru then asked the court to direct Mr Wike to produce his American passport, a request the judge granted.
Mr Oriji then adjourned the matter until Wednesday.
Mr Wike presented his American passport during cross-examination by another claimant’s lawyer, Mr Waru, on Wednesday.
However, the document received little attention during the proceedings.
After the passport was shown to the court, Mr Wike’s lawyer requested to replace the original copy with the photocopy to be kept in the court’s file.
The judge granted the request on the condition that the original would be returned to the court when needed.
During further cross-examination on Wednesday, Mr Waru showed the witness the printout of a voice note transcription dated 17 October 2025, which the court previously admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7.
Asked, after reading the document on Mr Waru’s prompting, if there was any discussion relating to money in the document, Mr Wike said, “Yes, that is what appears here.”
Fielding further questions, he said he had no physical meeting with Mr Garba on 26 September 2025.
Mr Waru showed the witness a contract agreement and asked him to look at the witness’ signature. He confirmed that the signature belonged to Onor Sandy, whom the claimants alleged witnessed the delivery of the $2.1 million cash.
But he denied knowing Onor Sandy, who allegedly signed as his witness when he allegedly received the $2.1 million.
“I don’t know him. I didn’t collect or sign any document,” he said.
