More Troubles Trail FCT Minister as Nigerians in Diaspora Petition U.S. AG, Demand Extradition, Prosecution of Wike

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that following Nigerian politician and activist, Omoyele Sowore, disclosed Investigation, the Nigerians in Diaspora, Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria Inc. USA, (GCSDN), has petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, calling for the extradition and prosecution of Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, over alleged fraud and money laundering in the United States.

OTN News further reports as gathered that the group who called for Wike's arrest in a petition dated September 28, 2025, on Change.org and signed by Comrade Frederick Odorige, Global Coordinator of GCSDN, alleged that the FCT Minister, who has held several public offices since 1999, used the United States as “a safe haven for the laundering of stolen money from Nigeria.”

OTN News observes from the information gathered that the petition, titled “Fraud And Money Laundering: A Petition for the Extradition and Prosecution of Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike by the United States of America,” detailed properties said to have been acquired in the U.S. with alleged illicit funds.

According to the document, the acquisitions are a $2 million mansion located at 113 Spring Creek Lane purchased in March 2025; a property located at 209 Hertherwood Court purchased in July 2021 for $459,157, reportedly transferred to his son, Joaquin and a property located at 208 Hertherwood Court purchased in September 2023 for $465,000 and transferred to his daughter, Jazmyne.

The petition further alleged that “Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, and their three children: Jordan, Joaquin, and Jazmyne Nyesom-Wike are involved in the mentioned houses.”

Furthermore, It noted that Wike’s legitimate income and that of his wife, a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Nigeria, could not have supported the acquisition of such properties, alleging instead that “the alleged laundered funds were proceeds of fraud which emanated from the pilfering and criminal manipulation of budgets, inflated cost of the execution of projects, and the direct withdrawal of public resources for private use.”

OTN News observes that the group who linked the allegations to Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, noted “Wike’s fraudulent activities as reported, are happening at a period when Nigeria is borrowing heavily all over the world to fund its national budgets.

“This is despite the fact that we have around 20 million abandoned and impoverished children on the streets and a huge number of unemployed citizens. Furthermore, the years ahead appear bleak for our citizens because the World Bank has projected that poverty will increase in our country by the year 2027.”

It also alleged that by failing to declare the said properties in his asset declaration form, Wike had violated the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) requirements of Nigeria.

The petition emphasized the role of illicit financial flows in fuelling irregular migration, stating: “The exodus of our compatriots to the US and other countries is mostly the result of the economic hardship and massive impoverishment caused by the misappropriation of public wealth by a few persons.”

GCSDN, however, urged the U.S. authorities to take action, noting: “Other Nigerians who committed fraud of lesser proportions have been extradited to the US for prosecution and we hope that the case of this individual will not be an exception.”

OTN News reports as learnt that copies of the petition were also sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington, D.C.

At the time of filing this report, the petition, which was initiated online by GCSDN, had already garnered 18 signatures just a few hours after its launch on Sunday.

OTN News recalls that in a related incident, last Monday, SaharaReporters reported that human rights activist Omoyele Sowore had petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, Uthmeier, seeking the forfeiture and prosecution of Wike over illicit property acquisitions in the United States, in which Wike later denied the allegations.