Lawyers representing the claimants in a $2.1 million land dispute involving Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, have formally asked the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court to transfer the case from the court of Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji.
In a letter dated 7 October 2026 and received at the Chief Judge’s chambers on 8 October, the firm I.G. Waru & Co. requested the reassignment of suit CV/008/2026. The suit was filed by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited against Jordan Wike. The lawyers based the request on what they described as a reasonable apprehension of bias linked to the judge’s alleged family and community connections with the defendant.
The letter, signed by Ibrahim G. Waru, stated that the claimants do not allege actual bias or question the judge’s professional competence. Instead, they argued that the circumstances could create a perception that the matter might not be decided with complete impartiality. The lawyers said the request was made in the interest of justice and to maintain public confidence in the judicial process, citing the principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
The application follows public comments made on 30 September by human rights lawyer and former National Human Rights Commission chairman, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu. Odinkalu had urged Justice Oriji to recuse himself, stating that the judge hails from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and is reputedly related to or well known to the Wike family, who share the same neighbourhood background. Odinkalu referenced a 1983 Supreme Court precedent in which Justice Anthony Aniagolu stepped aside from an election petition because of neighbourhood familiarity with one of the parties. He argued that the assignment of the case raised questions about the appearance of impartiality required under the Constitution.
The underlying suit centres on allegations by the claimants that they engaged Jordan Wike to facilitate the acquisition of land in the Federal Capital Territory for a proposed joint venture involving the construction of residential duplexes. They claim they paid $2.1 million in cash on 26 September 2025 as a facilitation fee, with $2 million allegedly intended for the FCT Minister and $100,000 for Jordan himself. The claimants say the land was never delivered and the money was not refunded.
Jordan Wike has denied the allegations in his court filings and during testimony. He stated that he does not know the claimants, never met them, did not receive the money, and that a signature attributed to him on an acknowledgement document is forged. He also told the court that he was outside Nigeria on the date the payment was allegedly made. On the application of the claimants’ counsel, Justice Oriji ordered him to produce his American passport, which he did. The court made a copy for its records. The matter has been adjourned to 1, 2 and 14 December 2026 for continuation of trial.
The claimants have further alleged that one of them approached Minister Wike in December 2025 seeking assistance in recovering the funds and that the matter was referred to the police. Jordan has characterised the claims as an attempt at blackmail and extortion. A police investigation report attached to his filings recommended that the first claimant face charges including defamation and giving false information. Those recommendations remain separate from the civil proceedings still before the court.
As of the date of the transfer request, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court has not publicly announced a decision on the application. The civil allegations themselves have not been determined.
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