Despite his denials and defiance, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike may now find it harder to brush off allegations of personal enrichment through land grabbing, especially after it emerged he allocated a staggering 2,082 hectares of Abuja land to his son, Joaquin Wike.
Last Christmas, the former Rivers State governor dared Nigerians to prove claims he was using public office to transfer prime Abuja properties to himself and close allies under the guise of revoking “dormant allocations.”
Now, a trove of official documents obtained by Peoples Gazette appears to confirm those very suspicions.
The documents show that since assuming office in August 2023, Wike has handed vast plots of land—worth at least \$3.6 billion by conservative estimates—to his last-born son via Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd, a company registered on October 10, 2024.
Seven days later, the company received its first 350-hectare land allocation, with file number 155882 and C-of-O number 0000162.
“When we told the minister in April that he needed to slow down on frequent allocations to his own children, he said he was just starting because his goal was to make them the largest landowners in Abuja,” an aide revealed under anonymity.
From Maitama and Asokoro to Guzape, Kwaita, Bwari, and Gaduwa, the allocations have been widespread and highly strategic—often in developing areas with high commercial potential.
A single plot in Maitama or Asokoro now sells for \$1.28–\$1.4 million, making the windfall to Joaquin eye-popping.
Even more damning, documents show Wike bypassed payment of ground rent, title registration, and survey fees, in violation of public service codes under the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution.
Yet, the lands came with full Certificates of Occupancy.
In one case, five plots within a 2.3-hectare parcel allocated to Joaquin in Gaduwa were allegedly seized from a middle-class family.
The minister is also said to have revoked land previously allocated to the Austrian diplomatic mission in the Central Area and reassigned it to himself.
“He has certificates of occupancy for all the lands, that’s what makes it even more lucrative,” an insider disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under Wike’s watch, has reportedly failed to pay salaries to workers across departments including broadcasting, environmental protection, and water supply.
Critics say the revelations raise serious constitutional and ethical concerns.
“If I can speak on the documents I am seeing here, then I’d say this is unconscionable,” said anti-corruption advocate Patience Okonkwo. “This takes public graft to a new level, and consequences should be severe in a serious country.”
Wike, often seen with his sons Jordan and Joaquin at public events, reportedly told close associates that he was grooming them to inherit his political structure.
His continued membership of the opposition PDP, while serving in President Tinubu’s APC cabinet, has added another layer of controversy.
The presidency is reportedly worried.
“Let me be honest with you and tell you that Nyesom Wike is a serious liability to the Tinubu administration,” a State House aide told The Gazette.
Still, political considerations may delay any decisive action.
“The president would eventually have to decide on what to do with the minister,” the aide added. “But predicting whether that is going to be before or after the election is beyond my service charge.”
A spokesman for Wike, Lere Olayinka, declined to comment, saying, “I am not aware of any development as such and can’t give comments on what I don’t have knowledge of.”
As public pressure mounts, anti-corruption campaigners are calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into land administration under Wike’s leadership. The question remains—will accountability follow the evidence?
