Trouble Looms As Nigerians In Diaspora Petition U.S. AG, Demand Extradition Of Wike
Nigerians in Diaspora – Global Coalition for Security & 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.
In a petition dated September 28, 2025, on Change.org and signed by Comrade Frederick Odorige, Global Coordinator of GCSDN, the group alleged that Mr. Wike, who has held several public offices since 1999, used the United States as “a safe haven for the laundering of stolen money from Nigeria.”
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.”
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.”
The group linked the allegations to Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, noting: “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 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.”
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.
Related Incident
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 the petition dated September 22, 2025, and signed by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., Sowore accused Wike of secretly purchasing multi-million-dollar real estate in Florida using suspicious cash transactions designed to conceal the source of funds.
According to the petition, Wike, alongside his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, purchased three luxury lakeside properties in Winter Springs, Seminole County, Florida, valued at over $6 million.
The petition listed the properties as 113 Springcreek Lane, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 5,000 sq. ft. residence purchased in cash for $535,000 and transferred to Jordan Wike (25); 209 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,401 sq. ft. home acquired for $459,157 in cash and transferred to Joaquin Wike (23); and 208 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,901 sq. ft. home bought for $465,000 in cash and transferred to Jazmyne Wike (20).
Sowore’s lawyers said the purchases were executed through quit claim deeds between July 2021 and September 2023 and transferred directly to Wike’s children. They argued that the cash-only acquisitions bypassed banking oversight and raised “serious money laundering concerns.”
Breach of Nigerian and U.S. Laws
The petition alleges that Wike failed to declare these foreign assets to Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as required under the Constitution.
It further noted that his legitimate income as a public servant since 1999 could not sustain such multi-million-dollar acquisitions.
The petition argued that the transactions violated both Florida state law and U.S. federal anti-money laundering statutes, specifically citing the Florida Money Laundering Act (Chapter 896.101, Fla. Stat.), the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, and federal laws under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957.
It also referenced the U.S. Department of Justice Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which targets assets linked to corrupt foreign officials.
In June, the Peoples Gazette started a series of reports, accusing Wike of abusing his office by allocating sprawling hectares of Abuja’s most valuable lands to his son, Joaquin Wike.
This was revealed in an exclusive report by the newspaper, which cited inside sources and official documents to support this staggering abuse of power orchestrated by the FCT Minister.
The report revealed that Wike, since assuming office in August 2023, signed off on over 2,000 hectares of prime real estate to his son.
It revealed that to achieve this, the minister bypassed regulations and skipped payment of critical fees, contrary to the Nigerian Constitution and the principles of civil service ethics.
The Peoples Gazette stated that these allocations span some of Abuja’s most exclusive districts, including Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Bwari, and Gaduwa. This amounts to roughly 2,082 hectares or about 40,000 plots, with an estimated market value of $3.6 billion.
In July, the minister was also accused of allocating prime Abuja lands to his family members and friends.
According to documents, Wike signed 33 approvals for land allocations to his family and friends, including his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike, who received a plot of land in Guzape II worth N400 million.
The allocations, which were made on July 16, 2025, also included lands for Wike’s paternal cousin, Believe Wike; nephew, Victor Wike; nephew, Henry Wike; and cousin, Enwusonye Promise Wike. Other beneficiaries included eight family members of James Hunwo, who received individual allocations on the same day.
In April 2025, reports revealed that six of his family members, including his brothers and sisters, were allocated lands in Guzape II.
The beneficiaries were Vincent Ejike Wike, Chidi Sam Wike, Chituru Wike, Christian Ibebulachi Wike, Collins Ngeme Wike, and Emmanuel Okanwene Wike.
However, Wike denied the allegations.
