The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has once again dismissed allegations that land in Abuja was allocated to the children of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The FCTA described the claims as “sponsored blackmail.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, insisted that no such allocations exist and challenged those behind the claims to provide evidence linking the Minister’s children to the companies involved.
Olayinka described the allegations as yet another attempt to damage the Minister’s reputation, saying, “As usual, this sponsored blackmail has failed. Nothing will stop the Minister from continuing his developmental efforts in the FCT in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.”
He continued, “Last week, it was unfounded and poorly carried out propaganda of Wike allocating 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to one of his sons, even when no such land is available in the two districts combined.”
“They used a document showing allocation of land for farming in Bwari Area Council to a company, JOAQ Farms, to justify the falsehood.”
“This week, it is tales of allocation of land to another son of the Minister because documents showed allocation of lands to a company, Jordan Farms.”
Olayinka further clarified, “Even though, like other Nigerians, it is the right of the children of the Minister, his friends, associates, and relatives to own lands anywhere in the country, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, as at today, no land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.”
He explained that the land in question was legitimately allocated to Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, a registered Nigerian company, stating clearly that none of the Minister’s children are listed as directors.
He stressed, “That one of the sons of the FCT Minister is Jordan and there is a company, Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, is no reason anyone should conclude that the company belongs to Wike’s son.”
“Records of ownership of the company are available at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and we challenge purveyors of these stories to publish names of the company owners.”
Drawing a parallel, Olayinka said, “Do I own the Local Government? Am I even from Kaduna State? There are companies like Jordan Telecommunications, Jordan Foods, etc. Are they also owned by Wike’s son?”
He added, “In the United Kingdom, there is Jordan’s Farms, is that company also owned by the FCT Minister’s son?”
Addressing a document allegedly bearing the name and signature of one of the Minister’s security aides, Olayinka said, “The question to be asked is simple—who owns the company; Hyper Communications Limited? If I choose to assist my friend, associate, or relative to collect property documents, does that confer ownership of the property on me?”
He concluded, “Therefore, let that fellow from Adamawa State, who is struggling to get at the FCT Minister for supporting power rotation between the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, put more efforts. This is because, just like the one of last week, this one too has failed even before its commencement.”