Wike denies owning property in U.S., dismisses Sowore’s allegations
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied owning any property in the United States, describing allegations linking him to multimillion-dollar real estate acquisitions in Florida as false.
Wike made the clarification on Monday during a media chat in Abuja while responding to allegations raised by former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore had petitioned the Attorney-General of Florida, James Uthmeier, calling for the investigation, forfeiture and prosecution of properties allegedly acquired in the United States by the FCT minister.
In the petition, which was signed by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Sowore alleged that Wike and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, secretly purchased three lakeside properties in Winter Springs, Florida, valued at more than $6 million.
The petition further claimed that the properties were acquired entirely with cash, allegedly bypassing banking oversight and raising concerns about possible money laundering.
Responding to the allegations, Wike questioned the credibility of some self-acclaimed activists, accusing them of spreading false information and creating unnecessary tension in the society.
The former Rivers State governor said he was surprised by the claims and stressed that there was no law preventing him from owning property abroad if he chose to do so.
“Are these the people you call human rights activists? Let me inform you, no law restricts me from owning a house. However, I don’t own a house there,” Wike said.
