…Presidency Tasks SGF’s Office With Coordinating Investigation Into Alleged Abuse of Office by FCT Minister
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a high-level investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office involving Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, over the controversial allocation of prime Abuja land reportedly valued at over $3.6 billion to his son, Joaquin.
According to senior State House officials, the directive was issued by the president late Thursday and further clarified by Friday afternoon.
The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has been tasked with coordinating the probe.
“The president agreed that the minister’s activity as reported in the media was suspicious and ordered a probe to determine if he had illegally enriched himself,” a senior aide to the president told The Gazette under condition of anonymity.
While it remains unclear whether anti-corruption bodies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be engaged, officials say the probe could last several months.
A spokesperson for the SGF could not be immediately reached for comment.
The move follows a recent report by The Peoples Gazette that Wike allegedly allocated approximately 2,082 hectares of land in the FCT to his son through a company named Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd. Real estate experts estimate the value of the land could exceed $3.6 billion.
In a statement issued amid mounting public criticism, Wike admitted to allocating the land for agricultural purposes but omitted the detail that the beneficiary company was owned by his son.
The minister defended the action, claiming no law prohibits a minister from granting land rights to family members.
However, legal experts say this stance may run afoul of Nigeria’s Constitution. Specifically, Article 5 of the Fifth Schedule prohibits public officers from using their position to confer undue advantage on themselves or their relations.
Prominent anti-corruption advocate, Mr. Lanre Suraju, urged the administration to ensure that the investigation is thorough, transparent, and free of political interference.
“That is most astonishing, but we need to be careful, going by past experiences of camaraderie and solidarity in public office and the president’s several public praises of Mr Wike,” Suraju said.
“Such panels need to make public their process and involve seasoned investigators from law enforcement agencies, including forensic experts and CAC registry analysts,” He added.
Despite Wike’s growing profile as a key player in Tinubu’s administration and his commendation for infrastructure development in the FCT, sources say the president’s decision to launch the probe was spurred by growing public concern and a commitment to clean governance.
Presidency insiders also noted that the investigation had not been publicly announced yet to avoid the perception of political targeting, especially considering Wike’s prominence and his sensitive role in the current political landscape.