By Desire Uzochukwu
Dr Ogwu Onoja, SAN, counsel to Jordan Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused claimants in an alleged $2.1 million Abuja land deal of spreading false information and misrepresenting court proceedings to damage his client’s reputation.
In a statement issued on Friday, Onoja alleged that the claims against Wike’s son were part of a calculated media campaign aimed at misleading the public and exerting pressure on the court.
He maintained that Jordan had denied any involvement in the alleged land transaction during his appearance before the court.
“For the record, Jordan Wike, in his defence before the court, stated in unequivocal terms that he has never met Safwan Garba G.Y. or any of his agents at any time,” the senior advocate said.
Onoja said his client maintained the position while giving evidence on September 28 and 30, 2026, questioning why the opposing lawyer, I.G. Waru, would grant interviews weeks after the proceedings.
He described the reported interviews and subsequent social media commentary as misrepresentations of what transpired in court, alleging that they were intended to influence public opinion and intimidate the judge.
The lawyer said his team had initially refrained from commenting publicly because the case was still pending before the court.
However, he said the continued allegations and what he described as misrepresentation of the proceedings had made it necessary to clarify his client’s position.
Onoja also disputed claims surrounding a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the claimants had failed to disclose a relevant document in their court pleadings.
He said the document was presented by the defence to highlight what it described as inconsistencies in the claims made by Safwan Garba G.Y. and his lawyers.
The senior advocate urged the public to disregard what he called false allegations and accused Waru of conduct he described as unethical and potentially contemptuous.
He warned that his client would consider criminal and civil action over alleged malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel against those he believes are spreading false information about him.
Meanwhile, Justice Sylvanus Oriji of an Abuja High Court had fixed December 1 for the continuation of hearing in the case after admitting the defendant’s international passport in evidence.
During cross-examination in suit number CV/008/2026, filed by Safwan Garba G.Y. and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, Jordan reportedly told the court that he was not in Nigeria on the date the claimants alleged they handed money to him to facilitate the allocation of land.
The claimants alleged that they approached Jordan for assistance in securing 30 hectares of land in Katampe and another 30 hectares in Guzape, Abuja.
According to their account, their initial meeting with the defendant took place in London, where they established a relationship with him, before a subsequent meeting in Abuja about three months later.
They alleged that Jordan demanded $2.1 million in facilitation fees, comprising $2 million purportedly intended for his father and $100,000 as his personal fee.
The claimants further alleged that the money was delivered on September 26, 2025, in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was accompanied by one Onor Sandy.
They claimed that after receiving the money, the defendant failed to facilitate the land acquisition or refund the funds and later became unreachable.
Jordan, however, denied the allegations, maintaining that he had no such interaction with the claimants.
The allegations remain disputed, with the matter pending before the court.
