*Jordan Tenders American Passport In Evidence
AN Abuja High Court in Maitama, on Wednesday, September 30, adjourned further hearing in the alleged $2.1million land transaction involving Jordan Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, until December 1.
The trial Judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji, at the resumed hearing, admitted in evidence the international passport of junior Wike, who denied any complicity in the alleged Abuja land deal.
During cross-examination in suit number CV/008/2026, filed against him by two claimants- Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited- Jordan told the court he was not in the country on the date the litigants claimed they handed money to him to facilitate the allocation of land to them.
The claimants had alleged that they approached Jordan for assistance in facilitating the acquisition of land in Abuja and he agreed to help them secure 30 hectares in Katampe and another 30 hectares in Guzape.
They claimed that though their initial meeting with the defendant was in London, where they established a relationship with him, they subsequently held another meeting in Abuja about three months later, and that Jordan demanded $2.1million as facilitation fees, comprising $2million allegedly meant for his father and another $100,000 described as his personal fee.
They also alleged that the money was delivered on September 26, 2025, in the presence of three persons- Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani- while Jordan was accompanied to the meeting by one Onor Sandy, adding that after the funds were handed over to the defendant, he neither facilitated the acquisition of the land nor made any refund, but later became unreachable.
The claimants said they later discovered that the plots were owned by a company, which was preparing to begin developing them, and demanded a refund on October 31, 2025, but got no positive response, prompting them to institute their suit to recover their money.
However, Jordan, represented by a team of lawyers, led by Ogwu Onoja (SAN), denied the allegation while adopting his statement on oath, insisting he had no such interaction with the claimants.
In response to a question asked by Counsel to the claimants, Ibrahim G. Waru, during cross-examination, he told the court that he was not in Nigeria on September 26, 2025, the day the claimants alleged the money was delivered to him in Abuja.
Jordan stated that he travelled out of the country with his American passport.
Justice Oriji had on Monday, September 28, ordered him to produce his American passport to clarify his whereabouts on the said date.
Onoja had earlier adopted his statement on oath opposing the suit and tendered some documents as part of his defence.
Jordan had maintained his innocence during cross-examination by Waru, denying any knowledge of the entire transaction.
The claimants’ lawyer then asked the defendant to write his full name and signature five times each on a plain paper, a move defence did not oppose the application, and which the court granted promptly.
Continuing cross-examination, the claimants’ lawyer asked Jordan where he was on September 26, 2025, to which he responded that he was outside the country, and had travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport, which he offered to produce if necessary.
Waru then asked the court to direct him to produce his American passport, a request the Judge granted, before adjourned the matter until Wednesday.
At the resumed proceedings, Jordan presented his American passport during cross-examination by Waru.
The document, however, received little attention during the proceedings, as after it passport was shown to the court, the defendant’s lawyer requested to replace the original copy with the photocopy to be kept in the court’s file, which the Judge granted, on the condition that the original would be returned to the court when needed.
During further cross-examination, Waru showed the witness the printout of a voice note transcription, dated October 17, 2025, which the court previously admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7.
Asked, after reading the document on Waru’s prompting, if there was any discussion relating to money in the document, Jordan, himself a lawyer, said: “Yes, that is what appears here,” but insisted he had no physical meeting with Garba on September 26, 2025.
Waru showed him a contract agreement and asked him to look at the witness’ signature, which he confirmed belonged to Onor Sandy, whom the claimants alleged witnessed the delivery of the $2.1million cash.
But he denied knowing Onor Sandy, who allegedly signed as his witness when he allegedly received the $2.1million, saying: “I don’t know him. I didn’t collect or sign any document.”
Jordan also told the court his signature on the contract document was forged.
When Waru asked if he reported the alleged forgery to the Police and if he knew any Salisu, he replied “No” to both questions
Waru then asked him to read from a copy of the transcription of a voice note, dated October 17, 2025, which was already tendered as an exhibit during previous proceedings, and if there was any discussion relating to money in the document.
Jordan replied “Yes, that is what appears here,” but denied having any physical meeting with Garba on September 26, 2025.
Before the adjournment, Jordan’s lawyer asked for time to subpoena witnesses to prove their case, The Judge granted the application, following no objection from the claimants, and adjourned the case until December 1.
