Wike Violated Asset Declaration Laws Over Undeclared U.S. Properties – Odinkalu

Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of violating Nigeria’s asset declaration laws by failing to disclose foreign properties linked to his wife and children.

This follows revelations that Wike secretly acquired a $2 million mansion in Florida, USA, registered in the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, and their three children — Joaquin, Jazmyne, and Jordan Wike.

According to documents obtained by West Africa Weekly, the Wike family secured the property in March 2025. The two-storey residence, located at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida, was built in 1997 and sits on a 4,076-square-foot lot with multiple bedrooms and parking spaces.

The report also revealed that Justice Eberechi Wike is a registered member of the U.S. Democratic Party — a direct violation of Nigeria’s Judicial Code of Conduct, which bars judges from being affiliated with political parties.

A source close to the transaction alleged that Wike deliberately excluded his name from the documents and used his family members’ identities to avoid scrutiny and asset declaration obligations.

Reacting to the controversy during an interview on Channels Television, Wike dismissed the claims, stating, “The property was a gift to my wife from her family. My wife and children are Americans. I don’t even like going to America.”

Professor Odinkalu, however, rejected Wike’s defence, insisting that Nigeria’s asset declaration laws require public officials to declare properties linked to their spouses and children, especially minors.

“The #DrunkenGlutton has clearly not read the #AssetDeclaration rules or he should know that assets in the name of his wife & children since 2008 concern him because they shd be declared,” Odinkalu wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officials must declare all assets belonging to themselves, their spouses, and children under the age of 18. Violations can lead to removal from office, fines, or trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The controversy has reignited public scrutiny over Wike’s time in office, both as a two-term governor of Rivers State and now as Minister of the FCT.

On Monday, SaharaReporters revealed that activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore had petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, Hon. James Uthmeier, calling for the investigation and potential forfeiture of Wike’s U.S. properties.

The petition, dated September 22, 2025, and signed by lawyer Deji Adeyanju, alleged that Wike used suspicious, cash-only transactions to acquire three luxury properties in Winter Springs, Florida, through his wife and children.

According to the petition, the properties include:

The properties were reportedly acquired via quit claim deeds between July 2021 and September 2023. The petition claims the cash-only acquisitions were designed to bypass U.S. banking scrutiny and may violate American anti-money laundering laws.

The petition cited violations of the Florida Money Laundering Act, Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, and U.S. federal laws under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957. It also referenced the U.S. Justice Department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which targets assets obtained through corruption by foreign public officials.

Further investigations by Peoples Gazette in June revealed that Wike had also allocated over 2,000 hectares of prime land in Abuja to his son, Joaquin Wike, bypassing regulations and payment of statutory fees.

According to the report, the land — located in high-value areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Bwari, and Gaduwa — is worth an estimated $3.6 billion.

Additional documents showed that Wike approved 33 more land allocations to his family members and close associates on July 16, 2025. Among the beneficiaries were his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike; his cousins, nephews, and siblings, including Vincent Ejike Wike, Chidi Sam Wike, Chituru Wike, and others.

Despite mounting evidence and public outcry, Wike has consistently denied all allegations. The growing number of reports has increased pressure on the federal government to investigate the matter and uphold Nigeria’s laws on public accountability and transparency.