Two claimants pursuing a $2.1 million land transaction dispute against Jordan, son of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking it to investigate alleged criminal elements of the deal.
Jordan has denied the allegations, telling the FCT High Court that he was outside Nigeria on the date the claimants said they handed him the money.
According to Daily Trust, Justice Silvanus Oriji fixed December 1 for the continuation of the civil suit, marked CV/008/2026, brought by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
Claimants Seek Recovery of $2.1 Million
The claimants are seeking to recover money they allege was paid in connection with a proposed property development venture involving land in Katampe and Guzape, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists at the court premises on Monday, their lawyer, Ibrahim Waru, said the EFCC had acknowledged receipt of the petition but had yet to act on it.
He explained that the civil proceedings concerned the disputed transaction, while the petition asked the anti-graft agency to examine whether any criminal offence had occurred.
Petition Alleges Promise to Facilitate Land Allocations
According to the petition cited by Daily Trust, the claimants’ representative met Jordan in London and subsequently discussed acquiring land in Abuja with him after returning to Nigeria.
The petition alleges that Jordan offered to facilitate the acquisition of 30 hectares in Katampe and another 30 hectares in Guzape.
It further alleges that he represented the arrangement as having his father’s knowledge and approval, and placed a telephone call to the minister in the representative’s presence.
Those assertions are the petitioners’ allegations; the reported telephone call does not independently establish the minister’s involvement or approval.
The claimants allege that Jordan received $2 million, which he said would be delivered to his father to facilitate the allocations, and a further $100,000 as a personal facilitation fee.
They claim the cash was handed over at a house in Gwarinpa in the presence of two witnesses, Adamu Sani and Aliyu Sarki. The petition also identifies Onor Sandy as a person who accompanied Jordan.
According to the claimants, the promised allocations were to be delivered within a month, but neither the land nor a refund followed, and subsequent efforts to contact Jordan were unsuccessful.
Jordan Cites Travel Records in Denial
Jordan disputed the account in court, saying he was not in Nigeria when the alleged payment took place.
He tendered his international passport in support of his position and said he had travelled outside the country using his American passport during the relevant period.
The competing accounts remain before the court for determination.
Lawyer Lists Documents Supporting Petition
Waru said the claimants’ supporting materials included an alleged acknowledgment of payment, correspondence and WhatsApp exchanges.
The petitioners asked the EFCC to investigate, obtain statements from those involved and prosecute if criminal liability is established.
Their lawyer’s account of an acknowledgment from the EFCC does not establish that the agency has commenced an investigation, made an arrest or filed charges.
The distinction between allegations and established liability also features in HURIWA’s call for transparent handling of investigations involving former governors.
Claimants Request Reassignment of Civil Suit
The claimants have also petitioned the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, asking that Justice Oriji be removed from the case over an alleged relationship with the minister’s family.
That allegation remains the claimants’ position. The information provided did not include a decision on their request or a response from the judge.
Questions about judicial impartiality have arisen in other proceedings, including the separate withdrawal of a judge from Ali Bello’s trial following evidence-tampering allegations.
The civil case against Jordan is scheduled to continue on December 1. No finding of criminal wrongdoing was reported in the account of the proceedings.
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