ABUJA: Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied receiving $2.1 million from a businessman over an alleged Abuja land transaction, telling an FCT High Court that his signature on a document linked to the deal was forged.
Jordan, a lawyer, also denied knowing one of the individuals whom the claimants alleged was present when the money was purportedly handed over.
He made the claims on Wednesday while giving evidence under cross-examination in a civil suit filed by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
The case, marked CV/008/2026, is before Justice Silvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja.
The claimants are seeking to recover the $2.1 million they allege was paid to Jordan in connection with a proposed real estate development involving properties in Katampe and Guzape.
Jordan, however, has maintained that he never received the money and had no business transaction with the claimants.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the defence witness was confronted with a contract containing a signature attributed to him.
Jordan rejected the document, insisting that the signature was not genuine.
He told the court that he only became aware that his signature appeared on the disputed land document when the matter came up in court.
I did not receive any money from anybody. I did not sign any document for land deal,” Jordan told the court.
He also denied having a relationship with a man identified by the claimants as Onor Sandy.
I never had any friend named Onor Sandy and I did not have any deal with anyone regarding land deal, he said.
The claimants allege that they first met Jordan in London in 2023 and subsequently developed a business relationship.
According to their statement of claim, Jordan later introduced a real estate opportunity to Garba in 2025, resulting in a proposed joint venture to develop residential properties in Abuja for sale.
Under the alleged arrangement, Jordan was expected to contribute land while Garba would provide $4.2 million for the development.
The proposed project reportedly involved 1.7 hectares in Guzape and another 1.5 hectares in Katampe New Extension.
The parties were allegedly expected to share the proceeds from the completed properties on a 60-40 basis, with Garba receiving 60 per cent and Jordan 40 per cent.
The claimant alleged that Apostle Associate Limited, Kano, prepared the contract, while Creekstone General Contractor Limited was identified as the company that would execute the proposed development.
However, Garba alleged that he was subsequently asked to pay $2.1 million for two plots that he believed Jordan had authority to provide.
The claimant’s case is that the money was paid in cash at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on September 26, 2025.
The alleged payment was said to have taken place in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was allegedly accompanied by Onor Sandy.
Garba further alleged that an acknowledgement form was completed and signed by Jordan, with his National Identification Number and passport details attached.
Jordan has rejected that account.
The proceedings also revisited Jordan’s whereabouts on September 26, 2025, the date the claimants alleged that the payment was made.
A day earlier, Justice Oriji had ordered Jordan to produce his American passport after he told the court that he was outside Nigeria on the date in question.
Jordan produced the passport in court on Wednesday.
His lawyer subsequently requested permission for a photocopy of the passport to remain on the court file while the original document was retained by his client.
The court granted the request, directing that the original passport be produced whenever required.
According to Garba’s account, the situation changed after the alleged payment when Jordan allegedly became increasingly difficult to reach.
The claimant said he subsequently visited the proposed development sites and discovered that another company was preparing to develop the properties.
Garba alleged that he confronted Jordan and demanded a refund after discovering the alleged ownership problem.
According to the claimants, several attempts to resolve the matter failed, while a formal refund demand was made on October 31, 2025.
They subsequently commenced the court action.
Another piece of evidence discussed during Wednesday’s proceedings was a transcript of a voice note dated October 17, 2025.
The transcript had previously been admitted as Exhibit 7.
Counsel to the claimants, Ibrahim Waru, questioned Jordan about whether money was discussed in the recorded conversation.
Jordan acknowledged that the transcript appeared to contain a discussion about money but continued to deny having physically met Garba on September 26, 2025.
Waru also presented the disputed contract and asked Jordan to identify the signature of the person described by the claimants as his witness.
Jordan identified the signature as belonging to Sandy but maintained that he did not know him.
When asked whether he had reported the alleged forgery to the police, Jordan said he had not. He also denied knowing another individual identified as Salisu.
The claimants are asking the court to order Jordan to refund the alleged $2.1 million, together with 10 per cent interest from the date of judgment until the judgment debt is fully paid.
They are also seeking N100 million in damages, alleging that the dispute subjected them to unnecessary trauma and psychological distress.
The claimants are further seeking the cost of prosecuting the case.
According to their statement, Garba also approached Wike, the FCT Minister, after his attempts to recover the money allegedly failed.
Garba claimed that the minister rejected his complaint and referred the matter to the police.
These allegations have not been established by the court.
Jordan and his father have not been found liable in connection with the claims, which remain before the court.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Jordan, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ogwu Onoja, adopted his statement on oath in which he denied the allegations and disputed the documents linking him to the transaction.
The defence subsequently requested time to subpoena witnesses it intends to call in support of its case.
The claimants did not object to the request.
Justice Oriji granted the application and adjourned the case to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The court will ultimately determine whether the alleged $2.1 million payment was made, whether Jordan was a party to the transaction and whether the documents relied upon by the claimants are genuine.
