The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, pending a thorough investigation into allegations of corruption and illicit property acquisitions in Florida, USA.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by Coordinator Marxist Kola Edokpayi and Secretary General Comr. Hon. Aghatise Raphael, the coalition called on President Tinubu to publicly distance himself from Wike, warning that continued association with the minister is “morally reprehensible” and tantamount to endorsing corruption. “Shielding Wike equals endorsing corruption at the highest level,” the group stated, emphasizing that failure to act would betray public trust and undermine the government’s anti-corruption stance.
The coalition demanded:
– The immediate suspension of Wike as FCT Minister pending a transparent investigation into allegations of graft.
– A clear statement from President Tinubu affirming that no official, regardless of political value, is above scrutiny.
– Swift action by anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to investigate without interference.
The group cautioned that inaction would erode the administration’s moral legitimacy, fuel public disillusionment, and signal that corruption is rewarded with proximity to power. “History will not absolve an administration that chooses complicity over conscience,” they warned, noting that Nigerians and the international community are watching closely.
The coalition’s demands follow a petition reported by SaharaReporters, launched by Nigerian journalists led by Yinka Tella, urging U.S. and Florida authorities to investigate Wike for alleged fraudulent real estate purchases. The Change.org petition, initiated by Imoh Oton, titled “Investigate real estate fraud by Nigerian minister Nyesom Wike in Florida,” alleges that Wike used looted funds to acquire luxury properties and called for decisive action to prevent Florida from becoming a haven for illicit funds.
Additionally, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused Wike of money laundering, alleging he purchased three luxury lakeside properties in Winter Springs, Florida, valued at over $6 million, using suspicious cash transactions. In a petition dated September 22, 2025, signed by his lawyer Deji Adeyanju, Sowore detailed the properties—acquired between July 2021 and September 2023 and transferred to Wike’s children, Jordan (25), Joaquin (23), and Jazmyne (20)—as follows:
– 113 Springcreek Lane: 5,000 sq. ft., bought for $535,000 in cash.
– 209 Hertherwood Court: 3,401 sq. ft., bought for $459,157 in cash.
– 208 Hertherwood Court: 3,901 sq. ft., bought for $465,000 in cash.
Sowore’s petition claims these cash-only transactions, bypassing banking oversight, violate Florida’s Money Laundering Act, the Contraband Forfeiture Act, and U.S. federal laws (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957). It also alleges Wike failed to declare these assets to Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau, and his income as a public servant since 1999 cannot justify such purchases. Sowore is seeking an international arrest warrant and Wike’s extradition to the U.S., citing the U.S. Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
The coalition reiterated that corruption undermines Nigeria’s progress and urged decisive action to restore public trust.
