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A lawyer representing businessman Safwan Garba and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide an update on a petition alleging fraud involving $2.1 million against Jordan Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The lawyer, Hamza Nuhu Dantani, said almost eight to nine months had elapsed since the petition was submitted without what his client considered meaningful progress or a satisfactory update on the investigation.
In a separate development, counsel to Garba and his company, Ibrahim Wuru, has asked the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, to reassign a related civil suit to another judge, citing concerns about the appearance of impartiality.
The allegations against Jordan remain disputed. He has denied receiving the money and maintained that his signature on the agreement presented by the claimants was forged.
Lawyer Seeks EFCC Update on $2.1m Petition
In a letter dated October 5, 2026, and received by the EFCC on October 8, Dantani reminded the commission of an earlier petition dated December 11, 2025.
The petition accused Jordan of alleged fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and conversion of $2.1 million in connection with a proposed real estate joint venture in Abuja.
According to the lawyer, Garba and a witness had honoured invitations from the anti-graft agency and cooperated with investigators.
However, he expressed concern that the investigation had allegedly failed to produce a meaningful update despite the passage of several months.
“However, almost eight to nine months have elapsed without any meaningful update or apparent progress on the matter,” Dantani stated in the letter.
The lawyer further claimed that, to the best of his client’s knowledge, Jordan had not been invited or questioned over the allegations. He also said his client had not been informed of the reasons for the delay.
Dantani stressed that Garba was not seeking preferential treatment or attempting to influence the outcome of the investigation.
“Our Client does not seek preferential treatment or a predetermined outcome. He merely seeks a fair, impartial, transparent and expeditious investigation and equal treatment under the law,” the lawyer stated.
He urged the EFCC chairman to direct the appropriate department to review the petition, establish the current status of the investigation and take any necessary steps supported by the available evidence.
The lawyer also requested that if investigators established a prima facie case, the commission should proceed in accordance with the law. Conversely, if the investigation found no basis for criminal proceedings, he asked that his client be formally informed.
Lawyer Seeks Reassignment of Civil Suit
Meanwhile, Wuru, counsel to Garba and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, has requested the reassignment of Suit No. CV/008/2026 from Court 2 of the FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, to another judge.
In a letter dated October 7, 2026, addressed to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Wuru said publications circulating on social media had raised concerns among his clients about alleged geographical, community and family connections between the presiding judge and Jordan.
The lawyer argued that the circumstances had created concerns about the appearance of impartiality, prompting his clients to seek an administrative reassignment of the case.
“In particular, the Honourable Judge presiding over the matter is from the same area/community as the defendant, and there exists a close geographical/community and family affinity between His Lordship and the defendant,” Wuru stated.
However, the lawyer expressly clarified that his clients were not accusing Justice Oriji of actual bias or questioning his professional integrity and competence.
“Our clients do not equally allege actual bias against His Lordship, the presiding Judge,” he said.
According to Wuru, the application was intended to prevent any reasonable perception that the proceedings might not be conducted with complete impartiality.
“Rather, the request is founded on the need to avoid circumstances capable of creating a reasonable perception or apprehension that the matter may not be determined with the required appearance of complete impartiality,” he added.
He urged the Chief Judge to exercise his administrative powers to reassign the matter in the interest of public confidence in the judiciary.
The lawyer also emphasised that any decision to transfer the case should not be interpreted as an adverse finding against Justice Oriji.
How the $2.1m Dispute Began
The dispute centres on a proposed real estate joint venture involving housing developments in Guzape Extension and Katampe New Extension in Abuja.
According to the claimants, the parties entered into an arrangement under which Jordan was to provide 3.2 hectares of land for the proposed development, while Garba was to contribute $4.2 million towards construction.
Garba alleges that he paid $2.1 million in cash on October 17, 2025, as part of the agreement.
However, the businessman claims that the proposed development did not materialise, leading to the legal dispute.
Garba and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited are asking the court to order Jordan to refund the disputed $2.1 million, alongside ₦100 million in damages and other reliefs.
Jordan has rejected the allegation that he received the money and challenged the authenticity of the agreement relied upon by the claimants.
During proceedings on September 30, 2026, he reportedly denied knowing a person presented as a witness to the disputed agreement.
“I don’t know him. I didn’t collect or sign any document,” Jordan told the court.
He has maintained that his signature on the agreement was forged.
The allegations have not been established by a court, and the civil dispute remains pending.
Court Fixes December Dates for Trial
The FCT High Court has adjourned proceedings in the matter to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
The latest developments have placed renewed attention on both the civil dispute and the status of the criminal allegations referred to the EFCC.
While Garba’s lawyers are seeking an update on the petition and reassignment of the civil suit, the outstanding questions include the current status of the EFCC investigation and the eventual determination of the disputed agreement and alleged payment.
The EFCC’s response to the latest request was not included in the information available for this report. No conclusion can therefore be drawn from the delay alleged by the petitioner’s lawyer regarding the commission’s position or the merits of the complaint.
TRACKNEWS ONLINE will continue to follow developments in the case, including any official response from the EFCC, the outcome of the reassignment request and further proceedings before the FCT High Court.
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