The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into recent revelations alleging that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secretly acquired a $2 million mansion in Florida under the names of his wife and children and also controversially allocated prime land at the Abuja Old Parade Ground to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) without payment of statutory charges.
The association, in a strongly worded statement, said the allegations as reported by reputable investigative platforms, if left unchecked, could further undermine public confidence in the rule of law, accountability, and the integrity of Nigeria’s institutions. HURIWA insisted that no individual, regardless of office or political affiliation, should be deemed above the law, adding that it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to urgently verify the claims and take appropriate action in the national interest.
“According to United States public records cited in reports, Wike allegedly purchased a luxury property located at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida, in March 2025. The mansion, valued at $2 million, was said to have been registered in the names of his children, Joaquin, Jazmyne, and Jordan, alongside his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, a serving judge in Nigeria. Analysts have noted that such a transaction, deliberately excluding the minister’s own name from ownership documents, could amount to an attempt to evade Nigeria’s asset disclosure requirements. Questions have also been raised on how a public officer with an official annual salary and allowances amounting to about ₦7.8 million could afford such an expensive foreign asset.
“In addition, concerns have been amplified over possible violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalises the acquisition of assets abroad using illicitly acquired funds. The involvement of Justice Eberechi Wike, according to the reports, may also breach the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, which requires judges to avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety in both financial and personal matters,” HURIWA stated.
HURIWA observed that in another separate but equally troubling development, documents obtained by the media revealed that on August 8, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Administration under Wike allocated a two-hectare portion of the Old Parade Ground in Abuja, registered as Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District, to the ruling APC. The report, HURIWA continued, alleged that Wike not only issued both the right of occupancy and the certificate of occupancy to the party on the same day, but also waived all multibillion-naira statutory charges, including land premium, development levy, survey duties, and infrastructure development charges, which should ordinarily accrue to the federal treasury.
HURIWA lamented that the allocation of such a historic and symbolic public space to a political organisation without due process or payment of the required fees sends a disturbing signal about abuse of office and the misuse of national assets for partisan advantage. The association described the speed and alleged irregularities in the allocation process as unprecedented, especially in a city where ordinary citizens are often subjected to years of bureaucratic delays and heavy financial burdens to secure modest plots. It stressed that this kind of preferential treatment for a ruling party undermines fairness, equality, and the principles of democracy.
The association noted that beyond financial impropriety, the allocation of part of the Old Parade Ground, a landmark that has for decades hosted civic and national events such as Independence Day parades, political rallies, football matches, religious gatherings, and cultural festivals, represents a serious distortion of Abuja’s founding master plan and a loss of a national heritage. It expressed concern that if such an action is not reversed, it could permanently convert a communal space of national identity into a partisan enclave.
In its reaction, HURIWA condemned what it described as a pattern of alleged abuse of power and resources by the FCT Minister, warning that a failure by relevant institutions to investigate and address the allegations will erode Nigeria’s democratic values and set a dangerous precedent. It urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Code of Conduct Bureau, and other relevant agencies to swing into action by conducting transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations into both the foreign property purchase and the controversial land allocation.
HURIWA stressed that if the allegations are verified, those involved must face the full weight of the law, including recovery of funds, reversal of unlawful allocations, and prosecution where necessary. The association argued that accountability must not be selective, and the law must apply equally to both political leaders and ordinary citizens.
The human rights body further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate leadership by distancing his administration from any act that undermines due process, equity, and transparency. According to the association, silence or inaction from the presidency would amount to tacit approval of the alleged misconduct, thereby weakening Nigeria’s anti-corruption posture.
HURIWA concluded by emphasising that the credibility of Nigeria’s institutions rests on their ability to hold even the most powerful accountable. It reiterated that no officeholder should ever consider themselves beyond scrutiny or immune from the dictates of the law, especially in matters concerning public trust, national assets, and the integrity of democratic governance.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko*
National Coordinator,
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
August 24, 2025
