FCT Minister Nyesom Wike accused of diverting Nigerian education funds in petition to EFCC. Pic: Social Media
Nyesom Wike is Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister and is the subject of fresh petitions alleging large land allocations, undeclared foreign property and duplicated contract awards.
Petitioners say the complaints relate to his time as Rivers State Governor and his earlier role as Minister of State for Education.
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Recent petitions claim FCT Minister Wike authorised allocations exceeding 2,000 hectares of high-value Abuja land to an entity linked to a family member valued in the billions of dollars and euros.
Petitioners have presented municipal records and land allocation documents as part of their complaint to the presidency and anti-graft agencies.
Those records, petitioners say, place the open-market value of the allotments at roughly $3.6 billion (about €3.3 billion).
President’s aides have reportedly instructed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to coordinate a review of the published claims.
Allegations of Foreign Property Held in Relatives’ Names
Separately, some groups have alleged the acquisition of a United States residential property held in relatives’ names at an estimated value of $2 million (about €1.8 million).
Those groups argue that the structure of the purchase and the names used raise questions about asset disclosure and potential concealment.
The minister’s office has responded by saying family members may lawfully acquire property and that relevant disclosures, where required, will be addressed as part of any probe.
Historical Education Fund and Contract Allegations Revisited
The older claims stem from reporting and petitions dating to 2012–2016 alleging diversion of education sector funds and duplicate payments on infrastructure contracts.
Those earlier allegations included accusations that projects funded by national education programmes and regional development agencies were paid for yet remained substantially incomplete.
Petitioners have pointed to a specific case of a road contract that they say was paid under separate programmes and remains largely unfinished despite recorded disbursements.
Advocates who compiled that material ask investigators to reconcile payment records with physical project completion evidence.
Contractor Disputes and Alleged Outstanding Debts in the FCT
Contractors in the Federal Capital Territory have staged protests and submitted claims for unpaid work that petitioners say total several billion naira.
Some petitioner summaries place disputed contractor claims in the range of ₦5.0–₦5.8 billion, which converts roughly to $6.5–$7.4 million (about €5.9–€6.7 million).
The minister has publicly asked contractors who claim payment to produce signed award letters and invoices before disbursements are considered.
Rights Suits and Court Rulings Related to Enforcement Actions
Vulnerable residents and rights groups filed a suit seeking ₦500 million in damages for alleged arrests and forced clearances in Abuja, according to court filings.
The Federal High Court has, however, dismissed or struck out that suit in reported rulings that found the claims lacked sufficient evidential support in the formal record.
Court rulings have not prevented rights organisations and opposition parties from continuing to press for independent reviews of enforcement practices and compensation claims.
Responses from Wike and His Office
Mr Wike has described some allegations as politically motivated and has denied illicit enrichment or illegal conduct involving land or foreign property.
The minister has repeatedly said that family members are permitted by law to buy and hold property and that any enquiries should follow due process.
On contractor claims, his office has said that some liabilities predate his tenure and that civil servants and local administrators are accountable for certain procurement actions.
Calls for EFCC and ICPC Action and Presidential Coordination
Petitioners have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to open formal investigations and to publish findings.
A presidential office was reported to have asked the SGF to coordinate a probe of recent land allocation claims, while the lead anti-graft agency for any further actions remains unspecified.
Legal Experts on Possible Charges and International Risks
Legal analysts say substantiated findings could lead to criminal charges such as abuse of office, illicit enrichment or breaches of procurement and land allocation laws.
Observers warn that allegations involving foreign property and very large land transactions can invite international scrutiny from partners and donor agencies concerned about transparency.
What Petitioners Want and the Next Steps
Petitioners request that any recovered funds be publicly accounted for and redirected to the education and infrastructure projects that were originally intended.
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They also ask that investigations be conducted transparently to build public trust and to avoid the appearance of selective enforcement.
