President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an official probe into the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, following media reports that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of prime Abuja land to a company owned by his son, Joaquim Wike.
Presidential sources confirmed on Friday, June 27, that Tinubu gave the directive Thursday night after reviewing allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest surrounding the land allocation, valued at over $3.6 billion.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior aide at the State House told Peoples Gazette, “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.”
The investigation is to be coordinated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, although it remains unclear whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission will be formally involved.
Sources close to the presidency suggest that Tinubu, despite his public praise for Wike’s performance in handling infrastructure in Abuja, felt the allegations warranted deeper scrutiny. Officials say the low-key approach to announcing the probe was a strategic decision to avoid political friction.
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The scandal centers on the alleged allocation of approximately 2,082 hectares of land to Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd, a company reportedly owned by Minister Wike’s son. Critics argue that such action, if proven, breaches Article 5 of the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits public officials from using their positions for personal or familial gain.
In response to public outrage, Wike released a statement claiming the land was assigned to a company for agricultural purposes — without disclosing his son’s ownership of the firm. He insisted no law bars him from granting land to family members.
However, anti-corruption activists have expressed skepticism. Human rights campaigner Lanre Suraju stressed the need for a thorough, transparent process. “We must ensure this probe is not another smokescreen. It must include seasoned investigators, forensic audits, and checks against CAC records”, he said.
The presidency did not disclose a timeline for the inquiry but urged Nigerians to come forward with any evidence of wrongdoing. A spokesperson for Wike declined to comment when contacted.
Public watchdogs are now watching closely to see how Tinubu handles a potential corruption case involving one of his key cabinet members. Analysts say the outcome of this investigation may set the tone for the administration’s credibility on anti-corruption efforts going forward.
PeoplesGazette
