Odinkalu Urges Judge to Recuse Himself From $2.1m Case Involving Wike’s Son

Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, has called on Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to recuse himself from the ongoing $2.1 million land dispute involving Jordan Wike, son of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The case, marked CV/008/2026, was filed by businessman Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited against Jordan over an alleged failed Abuja property transaction. The allegations have been denied by Jordan and remain before the court.

Why Odinkalu wants the judge to step aside

In a statement published on September 30, Odinkalu questioned the assignment of the case to Justice Oriji, arguing that the judge's reported connections to Rivers State and the Wike family could create concerns about the appearance of impartiality.

Odinkalu said Justice Oriji is from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, the same area associated with the Wike family, and alleged that the judge is reputedly related to the family.

He also argued that, even if there were no family relationship, the reported familiarity between the judge and the Wikes could raise concerns about public confidence in the proceedings.

Odinkalu referred to the 1983 Nwobodo Onoh election case, saying Justice Anthony Aniagolu had recused himself from the Supreme Court panel because of his familiarity with one of the parties and their shared neighbourhood.

Using that historical example, Odinkalu argued that Justice Oriji should similarly consider stepping aside.

He raises constitutional fair-trial concerns

Odinkalu further argued that the Constitution requires a court handling a case to be constituted in a manner that guarantees independence and impartiality.

He contended that the circumstances surrounding Justice Oriji's assignment could lead observers to question the eventual outcome regardless of which side succeeds.

However, the claim that Justice Oriji is related to the Wike family is an allegation attributed to Odinkalu, not an established judicial finding. The judge and Chief Judge of the FCT High Court had not publicly responded to Odinkalu's call in the reports reviewed.

What is the $2.1m case about?

The underlying dispute concerns allegations by Safwan Garba and his company that Jordan Wike agreed to help facilitate the acquisition of land in Katampe and Guzape, Abuja.

The claimants allege that they paid $2.1 million in cash on September 26, 2025, which they say was connected to the proposed land transaction.

They further allege that the money was not followed by the promised acquisition of the properties and that they subsequently sought a refund.

Jordan has strongly denied receiving the money. During proceedings, he also denied signing documents allegedly connected to the transaction and said his signature on one document was forged. Jordan produces American passport

The controversy intensified after Jordan told the court that he was outside Nigeria on September 26, 2025, the date the claimants said the alleged payment was made.

The court subsequently ordered him to produce his American passport. He presented it during the September 30 proceedings, and the court admitted a copy into evidence while returning the original to him, subject to its production if required later.

Jordan's defence maintains that he did not receive the alleged $2.1 million and disputes the claimants' account of the transaction.

The case has now been adjourned for further proceedings in December 2026.

What happens next?

Odinkalu's intervention introduces a separate issue into the case: whether the presiding judge should continue hearing the matter given the alleged connections he has raised.

For now, there has been no reported ruling that Justice Oriji is biased or conflicted, and the allegations surrounding the land transaction itself have not been determined by the court.

The next substantive proceedings will therefore be important both for the underlying $2.1 million dispute and for any response to the call for the judge's recusal

Source: https://thenicheng.com/recuse-yourself-odinkalu-tells-judge-handling-alleged-2-1m-land-scam-case-involving-wikes-son