Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has levelled a series of damning allegations against the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of abusing his office, engaging in illegal land transactions, and operating with blatant disregard for established laws and democratic processes.
In a detailed interview with Arise TV, the lawmaker expressed deep concern over what she described as Wike’s autocratic leadership style and illegal land practices within the nation's capital. One of the most shocking revelations was the alleged allocation of large parcels of Abuja land to the minister’s sons along with drastic and unauthorized fee reductions.
₦200 Million Land Fee Reduced to ₦2 Million
According to Kingibe, Wike’s son benefitted from a questionable land allocation process that saw a land bill originally worth ₦200 million slashed to just ₦2 million within two days.
“I have documents proving that Minister Wike allocated plots of land to his son. There was even a written request asking for a waiver, and he approved the reduction from ₦200 million to ₦2 million,” she revealed, describing the act as “grossly unfair, unethical, and clearly illegal.”
Kingibe claimed she is in possession of documents verifying these transactions and intends to present them before relevant oversight authorities.
Alleged Revocation of Institutional Land Without Legal Basis
The senator further accused Wike of illegally revoking institutional land, including 7,000 hectares previously allocated to the University of Abuja, thereby reducing the university’s total land holding to just 4,000 hectares. She contended that the move directly violates the Land Use Act, which governs land administration in Nigeria.
“Revoking land from a federal university without following due process is unlawful,” Kingibe insisted.
She also highlighted a similar incident in Bwari, where land originally designated for a general hospital was allegedly taken and reallocated for commercial purposes.
“He’s putting a market or mall on it now,” she stated.
Street Sweepers Dismissed Without Replacement
The lawmaker criticized Wike’s sweeping dismissal of low-income street sweepers, accusing him of failing to replace them with mechanical alternatives. This, she said, has led to deteriorating sanitation conditions across the FCT.
“Abuja is visibly dirtier now. He fired the street sweepers and brought in nothing to replace them. The city is suffering for it,” Kingibe remarked.
Harassment of Residents and Embassies Over Ground Rent
She also accused the minister of high-handedness in enforcing ground rent payments, saying that both residents and foreign embassies have come under pressure from his office.
“Minister Wike is harassing the entire FCT over ground rents, including diplomatic missions,” she said.
Gazette Report Corroborates Land Allocation Claims
Senator Kingibe’s allegations align with findings from The Gazette, an investigative publication, which recently reported that Minister Wike allocated over 2,000 hectares valued at approximately ₦3.6 billion to his son Joaquin, bypassing statutory procedures and waiving required payments.
In a separate instance, Wike’s other son, Jordan, allegedly received 1,740 hectares of land in Abuja, estimated to be worth $2.85 billion.
“Wike Runs FCT With Impunity”
Kingibe described Wike as running the FCT in a manner that disregards laws and institutions, particularly the National Assembly. She claimed that the minister has been re-establishing agencies and initiating structural changes without seeking legislative approval.
“The minister doesn’t obey the law. He doesn’t respond to oversight or even acknowledge letters from my office,” she said. “This is not how democracy should function.”
Senator Threatens to Escalate Matter to National Assembly
The FCT Senator pledged to present all documentary evidence to the National Assembly for full investigation.
“I will take these documents to the appropriate bodies and demand that due process be followed. Everything must pass through the National Assembly,” she vowed.
Alleged Threats and Surveillance
Senator Kingibe also raised concerns about her personal safety, alleging that she was followed from the airport by a black SUV after an official oversight visit an act she interpreted as a form of political intimidation.
“I believe that vehicle was sent to scare me,” she said, hinting at a possible attempt to silence or pressure her.
Minister’s Office Dismisses Allegations
In response, a spokesperson for Minister Wike dismissed the senator’s claims, accusing her of misrepresenting the Land Use Act and lacking a proper understanding of land administration procedures in the FCT.
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