Florida Property Allegation: I have nothing to hide – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations linking him to properties in the United States, declaring that he has noth­ing to hide.

Last week, human rights activ­ist and former presidential candi­date, Omoyele Sowore, petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, calling for the forfeiture of the al­leged assets, prosecution of those involved, and the imposition of a visa ban on the minister.

Sowore alleged that the prop­erty, located on 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida, was purchased by the minister in March 2025 and registered in the names of Wike’s children — Joaquin, Jazmyne and Jordan — together with his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, a serving judge.

Some groups have also issued statements, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis­sion (EFCC) to probe the allega­tions to ascertain if they are true.

Speaking with Daily Indepen­dent on Sunday, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Pub­lic Communications and Social Media to the Minister, said his principal has already addressed such claims publicly and remains unbothered.

“First, the FCT minister is not worried by any of these things. He has reacted publicly to many of these allegations. To him, it is normal and he is not losing sleep over it. There is a saying in Yorubaland that ‘it is the ripe, sweet oranges that people throw sticks and stones at on the tree’. Let them continue all the lies and falsehood.

“Let me state it clearly: The minister has nothing to hide. If you look at what Sowore is mak­ing noise about. He said Wike has properties in the US. When the minister was asked on national TV, he did not deny. He said the properties belong to his in-laws who are citizens of America. His in-laws willed the properties to his wife who is also an American citizen. The wife now willed the property to her children. The chil­dren too are Americans.

“If my parents willed proper­ties to me, what is wrong in that? Those parents, did they hold pub­lic office? Are they Nigerians?

“Sowore also came up with videos of one hotel in Port Har­court. When you are bringing out issues that are open to the public, is that investigative journalism? The hotel is not hidden. The min­ister is always at the hotel in Port Harcourt. He lodges there.”

He further dismissed the prop­erty records being circulated by Sowore as ordinary public docu­ments, which can be accessed by anybody online.

“In the US, property docu­ments are things you can ac­cess online. So, whoever that is bringing those documents and claiming to be doing investigative journalism or exclusive report is just deceiving himself. It is just like looking for a court judgment in the US. All you need is the case number and the judgment will come out.”

Olayinka accused Sowore of running a protest-driven “busi­ness enterprise” and alleged he is being sponsored by political interests threatened by Wike’s influence within the Tinubu ad­ministration.

“We all know the game Sowore is playing. The more noise he makes, the more money he gets. His own business enterprise is to organise protests. He will gather innocent youths for protests, he will station himself where he will be arrested by the police. Some­one will touch his clothes and he will fall down and claim he has been brutalised and in coma. He will send the pictures abroad to donor agencies and he will get foreign grants.

“Of course, he (Sowore) is be­ing sponsored. The FCT minister is a major factor in the politics of Nigeria today. He is also a major factor in government. So, we are not surprised by the antics of the likes of Sowore and his sponsors”.

He emphasised that Wike re­mains undistracted and commit­ted to delivering on his mandate in the FCT, noting that Nigerians are already seeing the impact of his leadership.

“The minister is not distract­ed at all. He is focused on the task given to him by Mr President and appreciative Nigerians are seeing the good works he is doing in the FCT.”