Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is facing fresh controversy after activist Omoyele Sowore alleged that he secretly purchased a luxury home in Florida valued at $2 million. The claim, which has attracted widespread attention, could potentially place the minister under U.S. legal scrutiny.
Sowore, publisher of West Africa Weekly and a prominent critic of Nigerian political elites, asserted that Wike acquired the property in March 2025 using cash. To avoid disclosure, he allegedly registered the house in the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, a serving judge at the Court of Appeal, and their children.
The property in question is located at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida. Built in 1997, the two-storey residence sits on a 4,076-square-foot lot. Official records reportedly omit Wike’s name, a move Sowore claims was intended to shield the purchase from both Nigerian and U.S. scrutiny.
According to Sowore, this arrangement could amount to property trafficking and money laundering under Florida law, both classified as first-degree felonies carrying penalties of up to 30 years imprisonment. He further argued that the minister’s official salary — about ₦7.8 million annually (approximately $5,000) — does not align with the financial capacity to purchase such a high-value asset abroad.
“The time has come for accountability. Wike is about to learn a hard lesson in the U.S. if these allegations are pursued,” Sowore declared, while urging Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, to launch an immediate investigation.
The revelations have reignited debate about Nigerian public officials’ overseas assets, with critics insisting that the purchase underscores the disconnect between declared incomes and actual lifestyles of government appointees.
As of press time, neither Wike nor the FCT Ministry has issued an official response to the allegations. U.S. authorities are yet to confirm whether a formal inquiry has been opened.
