Abuja, Nigeria — Fresh controversy has trailed Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, after property records from Florida, United States, showed that he and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, transferred several U.S. houses into the names of their children between 2021 and 2023.
The revelations were made public on Sunday by human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who shared copies of the official documents—called Quit Claim Deeds—on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Wike as FCT Minister in August 2023.
Details of the Transfers
According to the documents seen by SaharaReporters:
- July 22, 2021: Justice Eberechi Wike transferred a property in Winter Park, Florida, to herself and her son, Joaquin Chibuike Nyesom-Wike, as joint tenants.
- July 27, 2021: Another property in Seminole County, Florida, was transferred to her and their son, Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike. The deed was filed for just $10 and “other considerations.”
- August 13, 2023: Months before Wike’s ministerial appointment, Justice Wike transferred yet another Seminole County property to herself and their daughter, Jazmyne Adaeze Nyesom-Wike.
Each deed states the houses were not family homes (homesteads), and that full ownership rights were handed over to the children.
Sowore’s Reaction
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and founder of the #RevolutionNow movement, accused Wike of hiding wealth abroad.
“These are the Quit Claim Deeds that Wike and his wife used to transfer three different Florida properties into the names of their children, Jordan, Joaquim, and Jasmyne,” Sowore wrote.
He linked the documents to Wike’s recent appearance on Channels Television, where the minister denied knowledge of his family owning foreign mansions.
“But the international thief has now been caught in his own web of lies,” Sowore added, while also claiming Wike had recently battled health issues in London.
What Are Quit-Claim Deeds?
Sowore explained why politicians use this U.S. legal tool.
- A Quit Claim Deed allows someone to transfer whatever rights they have in a property to another person—often family—without guaranteeing the property is free of debt or legal issues.
- They are normally used in family settings, like when parents add children to property ownership.
- Because they skip strict background checks, corrupt politicians allegedly exploit them to quietly move properties into relatives’ names and hide their real wealth.
“This is precisely what Wike has done,” Sowore said, warning that such moves could attract money laundering charges under U.S. law.
Other Allegations Against Wike
This isn’t the first time Wike has faced property-related scandals:
- Peoples Gazette reported in June that Wike allocated over 2,000 hectares of prime Abuja land to his son, Joaquin, bypassing rules and fees. The lands—valued at $3.6 billion—are in Abuja’s richest districts, including Maitama and Asokoro.
- In July, more documents allegedly showed Wike also approved land allocations for several family members, including his 90-year-old father, cousins, nephews, and siblings. Some plots were valued at hundreds of millions of naira each.
- In August, West Africa Weekly revealed that Wike secretly acquired a $2 million Florida mansion at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, registered under his wife’s and children’s names. The report added that Justice Eberechi Wike is a registered member of the U.S. Democratic Party, a violation of Nigeria’s judicial code of conduct.
Calls for Investigation
Sowore has petitioned the Florida Attorney General, accusing Wike of laundering Nigerian public funds into U.S. real estate.
Under American law, such transactions could lead to asset seizure and criminal prosecution under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Recovery Initiative.
Wike Denies Allegations
Despite the mounting claims, Wike has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, insisting he does not own U.S. properties.
This story continues to raise questions about wealth, corruption, and accountability in Nigeria’s leadership.
