Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, may be under scrutiny in the United States following allegations that he secretly acquired a $2 million mansion in Florida. Activist Omoyele Sowore raised the claims, suggesting that Wike’s purchase could violate American laws prohibiting the use of illicit funds for property acquisition.
Sowore alleged that Wike bought the property in cash but concealed his ownership by registering it under the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, a serving Court of Appeal judge, and their children. According to Sowore, this arrangement may constitute property trafficking and money laundering, which are first-degree felonies under Florida law and carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison.
Public records obtained by West Africa Weekly indicate that the residence, located at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida, was purchased in March 2025. The two-storey home, built in 1997, sits on a 4,076-square-foot lot. Wike’s name was reportedly left off the official documents to avoid scrutiny and disclosure requirements.
Critics have questioned how a Nigerian cabinet minister, with an official annual salary of roughly ₦7.8 million (about $5,000), could afford a multi-million-dollar property abroad. The purchase has sparked public debate and calls for accountability.
Sowore has urged Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, to investigate the transaction, warning that Wike “is about to learn a hard lesson.” The allegations come amid growing public interest in the financial dealings of Nigerian officials and their overseas assets.
