Wike Violated Asset Declaration Rules Over Undeclared U.S. Properties – Odinkalu
Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has stated that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike violated asset declaration rules by failing to disclose foreign assets associated with his wife and children.
In August, damning revelations exposed how Wike secretly acquired a $2 million mansion in Florida and concealed ownership by registering the property in the names of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, and their three children, Joaquin, Jazmyne, and Jordan.
The documents, obtained by West Africa Weekly, also show that Justice Wike is a registered member of the U.S. Democratic Party, a status that places her in violation of Nigeria’s Judicial Code of Conduct, which prohibits judges from partisan political affiliations.
According to official U.S. public records, the Wike family quietly secured the property in March 2025.
The residence, located at 113 Spring Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida 32708, is a two-storey mansion built in 1997 on a 4,076-square-foot lot. It features multiple bedrooms, a garage, and two dedicated parking spaces.
A source familiar with the deal, who spoke to West Africa Weekly on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Wike deliberately omitted his name from the purchase, using his wife’s and children’s identities to shield himself from scrutiny regarding asset declaration obligations and questions about the source of funds.
The report was later amplified by human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
However, reacting to the controversy in a Channels Television interview last week, Wike dismissed claims that he secretly owned property abroad, saying, “The property was a gift to my wife from her family.”
“My wife and children are Americans. I don’t even like going to America,” the minister added during the interview.
Odinkalu, however, countered Wike’s defence, insisting that Nigeria’s asset declaration laws require public officials to declare properties linked to their spouses and children, especially minors.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Odinkalu wrote: “The #DrunkenGlutton has clearly not read the #AssetDeclaration rules or he should know that assets in the name of his wife & children since 2008 concern him bcos they shd be declared.
“By the way, how old were his children in 2008. His singing has only begun….”
Under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, all public officers are mandated to declare their assets, including those of their spouses and children under the age of 18.
Failure to do so can attract sanctions ranging from removal from office to prosecution before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Wike, who served two terms as governor of Rivers State before his appointment as FCT Minister in 2023, has faced growing scrutiny over his political and personal dealings.
The Florida property row has now intensified calls for greater accountability and adherence to transparency rules among top government officials.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
