‘Recuse yourself,’ Odinkalu tells Judge handling alleged $2.1m land scam case involving Wike’s son
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has urged Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to recuse himself from a $2.1 million land dispute involving Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, son of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The suit, marked CV/008/2026, was filed by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited against Jordan.
According to Odinkalu, who is a Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School, there is family connection with the Wikes. He said such connection negates the doctrine of impartiality in the dispensation of justice.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Odinkalu said there is a precedent involving the Supreme Court and the 1983 Anambra State governorship election petition between Jim Nwobodo and Christian Onoh.
He argued: “When the Chief Justice Sodeinde Sowemimo constituted panel of @SupremeCourtNg to hear the appeal in the governorship case of Jim Nwobodo v. Christian Onoh in the Anambra State election petition following the Anambra State governorship election in #NigeriaDecides1983, he had Anthony Aniagolu on the panel.”
According to him, Justice Aniagolu recused himself when the panel commenced proceedings because, “he knew both parties well & came from the same neighborhood as Chief Onoh,” Odinkalu said.
He questioned the assignment of the Wike’s case to Justice Oriji, alleging that the judge comes from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and is reputedly related to the Wike family.
“I am rather impressed that this case involving serious allegations against the son of @GovWike has been assigned to a judge of @fcthighcourt, Sylvanus Oriji, who comes from Obio/Akpor LGA in Rivers State & who is reputedly related to the Wikes,” he wrote.
“Even if he wasn’t, he is well known to the Wikes & they come from the same neighborhood in Ohio/Akpor.”
Odinkalu argued that the circumstances could affect public confidence in the proceedings, adding that “only a judiciary that is not interested in its credibility or in justice could possibly think that is proper, normal, or acceptable.”
He said he was particularly concerned about both the decision to assign the case to Justice Oriji and the judge’s decision to preside over it.
“I am shocked that: 1. The Chief Judge of @fcthighcourt decided to assign this case to this judge. Surely, he is not so innocent or so naive as not to know better; and 2. The presiding judge should choose in these circumstances to accept to sit on this case,” he said.
Odinkalu also cited what he described as the constitutional requirement for a fair trial, saying courts must be constituted in a manner that guarantees independence and impartiality.
“#MindYou, the constitutional standard of #FairTrial requires that the court should be ‘constituted in such a manner as to guarantee its independence & impartiality,’” he wrote.
“It is unlikely that having a judge with the genealogy of this particular presiding judge in this case meets the constitutional thresholds.”
He argued that Justice Oriji could face difficulties regardless of the eventual outcome of the case.
“The judge is in an impossible position. Whether the case succeeds or fails, extraneous factors will be imputed,” he said.
Odinkalu also questioned why the claimants’ lawyers had apparently not sought the judge’s recusal.
“In the circumstances, I am equally surprised that the lawyers for the claimants appear not to have not asked the presiding judge to recuse himself. That is an obligation of professional conscience in this case,” he wrote.
“This is not a case in which justice can be seen to be done as the court is presently constituted. It is not too late for the judge to do the right & proper thing & recuse himself.”
Background
In the trial of the alleged $2.1 million land scam, Justice Oriji yesterday, September 29, 2026 ordered Jordan to produce his American passport in court during the ongoing trial.
The order followed an application by counsel to the claimants, Hamza Dantani, during cross-examination of Jordan.
The claimants allege that they met Jordan in London and later approached him in Abuja for assistance in facilitating the acquisition of land in the Federal Capital Territory.
They allege that Jordan agreed to facilitate the acquisition of 30 hectares at Katampe and another 30 hectares at Guzape and demanded $2.1 million, which they claim comprised $2 million allegedly meant for his father and $100,000 for himself.
The claimants further allege that the money was delivered in cash on September 26, 2025, in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was accompanied by Onor Sandy.
They claim that Jordan subsequently failed to deliver the land or refund the money.
Jordan, however, has denied the allegations, adopting his statement on oath during the resumed proceedings. He was represented by Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and other members of his legal team.
During cross-examination, Jordan denied knowledge of the allegations put to him by Dantani.
Counsel also asked the court to direct Jordan to write his full name and signature five times each on a plain sheet of paper. The application was not opposed by the defence and was granted.
When asked where he was on September 26, 2025, Jordan told the court that he was outside Nigeria.
Asked which passport he used to travel, he said he travelled with his American passport and indicated that he could produce it if required.
Dantani subsequently applied for an order compelling him to produce the passport, and Justice Oriji granted the application. The court adjourned the matter until Wednesday for continuation.
The case is rooted in a joint venture agreement dated October 17, 2025 involving the claimants, Jordan and two companies, namely Apostle Associate Limited and Creekstone General Contractor Ltd.
According to the claimants’ Statement of Claim, the proposed venture involved the construction of 24 units of six-bedroom fully detached duplexes on land in Guzape New Extension and Katampe New Extension.
The claimants allege that they were to contribute $4.2 million, or its naira equivalent of N6.3 billion, while Jordan was to provide the land.
They further allege that Jordan pressured them to provide cash in US dollars and that $2.1 million was paid at a property in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
The claimants say Jordan signed an acknowledgment of receipt and provided identification and contact details.
They subsequently allege that they discovered that the plots did not belong to Jordan and that another company was mobilising to develop them. They said they demanded a refund on October 31, 2025.
The claimants also alleged that the 1st claimant approached Wike on December 24, 2025 to seek assistance in recovering the money.
According to their Statement of Claim, the minister allegedly abused and accused him of lying and stealing before directing an aide to take him to the FCT Commissioner of Police.
The claimants allege that the 1st claimant was treated as a suspect and made an extra-judicial statement before being released on bail.
In his Notice of Intention to Defend and supporting affidavit, he said he did not know the claimants and had never met them in London, Nigeria or elsewhere.
He also disputed the claimants’ account of when and where the alleged payment took place.
Jordan said a November 24, 2025 letter to his father and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the payment was made on September 26, 2025, but that he was travelling from Abuja to London on a British Airways flight at the time.
He further denied receiving the $2.1 million or signing the acknowledgment of receipt, describing the signature on the document as forged.
He also said the passport number contained in the alleged acknowledgment was not his current passport number and that the passport bearing that number had expired in 2022.
Jordan characterised the allegations as an attempt to blackmail his father and extort money.
A Certified True Copy of a police investigation report attached to his filings stated that the FCT Police Command investigated the matter. According to the report, the 1st claimant was given an opportunity to provide evidence supporting the alleged payment but had not done so.
The report recommended that the claimant be arraigned for alleged defamation of character, giving false information to mislead a public servant and attempted extortion.
Jordan’s legal team is led by Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN, M.A. Ebute, SAN, and George Ibrahim, SAN, among others.
The claimants are represented by H.U. Muhammed of I.G. Waru & Co., with an address for service at Abdulaziz Ibrahim SAN & Co., Asokoro, Abuja.
