Ireti Kingibe, a Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has made severe claims against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of egregious abuse of authority, impunity, and significant land malfeasance in Abuja.
In a recent interview, Kingibe said that Wike reduced his son’s ₦200 million land bill to ₦2 million in 48 hours and removed institutional land without legal proof.
The senator cited to official evidence suggesting Wike’s son received huge property allocations, with the minister supposedly allowing a drastic drop in fees, calling the act as “unfair, unethical, and clearly illegal”
“I have documents to show that Minister Wike allocated lands to his son… they wrote asking him to give a waiver on the bill and reduce it,” Kingibe claimed on an Arise TV program.
According to reports, the member further accused Wike of ruling the FCT with impunity, breaking laws, and circumventing the National Assembly while re-establishing agencies.
“The minister does not follow the rule of law.” “He’s autocratic, and when you try to get his attention, he doesn’t accept it,” she stated.
She alluded to his revocation of 7,000 hectares of land from the University of Abuja, leaving it with only 4,000 hectares, which she labeled “against the Land Use Act”
She also cited the example of land in Bwari that was originally designated for a general hospital but was later repurposed for commercial use.
“He revoked it and he’s having some sort of a market or mall… put on it,” according to Kingibe.
Kingibe also criticized Wike for terminating destitute street sweepers without replacing them with machines, resulting in a visibly dirty city once again.
“He comes and fires them all…” Then he does not replace them with automated street sweepers. “So Abuja is looking dirty,” she complained.
Kingibe accused the government of harassing residents and embassies regarding ground rent enforcement.
“Minister Wike has been harassing all of FCT over ground rent, including embassies,” she claimed.
Wike’s spokesman later denied these allegations, accusing the senator of misunderstanding about the Land Use Act.
₦200 million reduction and institutional land revocations noted.
According to The Gazette, Wike allegedly gave his son Joaquin an estimated 2,082 hectares (₦3.6 billion) without following procedures or making due payments.
In a separate instance, his other son, Jordan, allegedly received 1,740 hectares ($2.85 billion) in Abuja.
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Kingibe will escalate with materials to the National Assembly.
Kingibe has, however, promised to turn over material to competent parties, including the National Assembly, for examination.
“I’m going to take those documents and go to the body… and insist that… the National Assembly… approve everything,” she told the audience.
She alleged that her communication with Wike’s office had been neglected.
“I have not received a response even after writing letters…” “This is not how democracy is supposed to function,” she argued.
Kingibe also expressed security worries, describing how a black SUV followed her from the airport following an oversight visit, which she viewed as intimidating.
