Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied receiving $2.1 million from businessman Safwan Garba GY in connection with an alleged Abuja land deal.
Jordan, a lawyer, told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja that his signature on a document allegedly acknowledging the payment was forged.
He also denied knowing Onor Sandy, whom the claimants alleged accompanied him when the $2.1 million was allegedly paid in cash.
Jordan made the claims on Wednesday while being cross-examined by counsel to the claimants in a suit marked CV/008/2026, before Justice Silvanus Oriji.
The claimants, Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, are seeking to recover the alleged $2.1 million, which they said was paid in connection with a proposed property development venture involving plots in Guzape and Katampe, Abuja.
When shown the disputed agreement during cross-examination, Jordan said the signature attributed to him was not genuine.
“I did not receive any money from anybody. I did not sign any document for land deal, I only found out that my signature was on the land document just like anyone else in this court yesterday (Tuesday),” he told the court.
He also said, “I never had any friend named Onor Sandy and I did not have any deal with anyone regarding land deal.”
The development followed an order made by Justice Oriji on Tuesday directing Jordan to produce his American passport after he told the court that he was outside Nigeria on September 26, 2025—the date the claimants alleged the payment was made.
Jordan produced the passport in court on Wednesday. His lawyer subsequently requested that a photocopy be retained in the court file while the original remained with his client. The court granted the request on the condition that the original would be produced whenever required.
According to the claimants’ statement of claim, Garba first met Jordan in London in 2023 before their relationship allegedly developed into a proposed real estate partnership.
The claimants alleged that in 2025, Jordan introduced a property development venture involving 1.7 hectares of land in Guzape and 1.5 hectares in Katampe New Extension.
Under the alleged arrangement, Jordan was to contribute the land while Garba would provide $4.2 million for the development, with the proceeds from the eventual sale of the houses to be shared 60 per cent to Garba and 40 per cent to Jordan.
Garba further alleged that he later paid $2.1 million in cash for two plots at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on September 26, 2025.
He claimed the payment was made in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was allegedly accompanied by Sandy.
Garba also alleged that an acknowledgement form containing Jordan’s signature, National Identification Number and passport details was completed in connection with the payment.
Jordan has denied the allegations and maintained that he had no physical meeting with Garba on the date in question.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to the claimants, Ibrahim Waru, also confronted Jordan with a transcript of a voice note dated October 17, 2025, which had earlier been admitted as Exhibit 7.
When asked whether money was discussed in the conversation, Jordan replied, “Yes, that is what appears here.”
He, however, maintained that he did not meet Garba physically on September 26, 2025.
Jordan also identified a signature on the disputed document as that of Sandy but maintained that he did not know him.
Asked whether he had reported the alleged forgery to the police, Jordan said, “No.”
The claimants allege that after the payment, Jordan became difficult to reach and that they later discovered that the land was allegedly not owned by him.
They are asking the court to order a refund of the $2.1 million, with 10 per cent interest from the date of judgment until full payment.
They are also seeking N100 million in damages and the cost of prosecuting the suit.
Jordan, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, adopted his statement on oath denying the claims and documents linking him to the alleged transaction.
The defence subsequently sought time to subpoena witnesses.
Justice Oriji granted the request without objection from the claimants and adjourned the case to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The allegations remain before the court, and no liability has been established against Jordan or any other defendant in the ongoing civil proceedings.
