A coalition of 52 civil society organizations (CSOs) has called for an immediate investigation into the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged asset concealment, illicit enrichment, and violations of asset declaration laws.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the groups urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), National Judicial Council (NJC), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to launch coordinated inquiries without political bias.
They stressed that no public official should be above the law, warning that selective enforcement undermines public trust in Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
The coalition alleged that Wike and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of the Court of Appeal, are linked to substantial undeclared assets, including three lakeside properties in Florida acquired between 2021 and 2023 and allegedly transferred to their children. They also cited concerns over shell companies, luxury vehicles, and property allocations in Abuja.
The groups further referenced long-standing allegations of diversion of $300 million meant for Ogoniland remediation and questionable land allocations in the FCT, as alleged by Senator Ireti Kingibe.
“These allegations, if substantiated, represent not only violations of Nigeria’s anti-corruption statutes but a profound betrayal of public trust,” the statement read.
The CSOs demanded:
- A full audit of Wike’s asset declarations as governor and minister;
- A forensic probe of financial transactions linked to him and his family;
- Public disclosure of findings and prosecution where violations are established.
They said the handling of the case would be a litmus test for Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions, urging international partners to monitor the process closely.
The statement was endorsed by leading groups, including Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Yiaga Africa, and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), among others.
