Claimants’ Lawyer Speaks on $2.1m Deal Dispute in Abuja Court
Hearing Adjourned to December as Claimants Close Their Case
Counsel to the claimants in the suit involving Safwan Garba, GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited and Jordan Nwosu Wike, widely identified as a son of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has given a detailed account of the dispute after the court sitting in Abuja. Speaking to journalists, including our correspondent, lawyer Ibrahim Garba Waru said the claimants have closed their case. The defendant, he said, entered his defence with one witness, himself, who testified as DW1. The Federal Capital Territory High Court adjourned the matter to December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Lawyer Rejects Social Media Claims, Explains $4.2m Joint Venture Terms
The lawyer dismissed claims circulating on social media that the dispute involves 60 hectares of land split between Guzape and Katampe. He said the case centres on a joint venture agreement duly signed by both parties. Under its terms, the claimants were to contribute $4.2 million, while the defendant would supply 1.5 hectares in Guzape and 1.7 hectares in Katampe for building houses for sale. Proceeds were to be shared 60 per cent to the claimants and 40 per cent to the defendant. He insisted that the document, and not the online version, is the true basis of the suit.
Claimants Allege Fallout After $2.1m Payment
According to the lawyer, the trouble began after the claimant paid $2.1 million, half of his agreed contribution, which he says the defendant acknowledged as part payment. “After collecting this money, the story became entirely different,” he told reporters, describing that moment as the origin of the legal fight. The claimants allege the relationship soured once the funds changed hands. These are the claimants’ assertions. The lawyer did not mention the defendant’s account of the transaction, which will be tested in court.
Lawyer Clarifies When the Cash Changed Hands
A central point of contention is the date of payment. The defendant has reportedly maintained that he was out of the country when the money was handed over. The lawyer argued that the timeline confuses two dates. He said September 26, 2025, was when the parties began discussing the business by phone and WhatsApp calls, with the chats tendered in court as Exhibit 7. The cash, he said, was handed over on October 17, 2025, at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja, in the presence of two young men who later testified. They allegedly helped load the money into a vehicle.
Boarding Pass Without a Year: Counsel Challenges Defendant’s Alibi
The lawyer also challenged the defendant’s evidence of his whereabouts. He said the boarding pass presented in court carried a day and month but no year. When he asked the defendant which year it was issued, he said, No answer was given. In his view, the document cannot support the claim that Mr Wike was abroad on the relevant date. Our correspondent could not independently verify the exhibits, and the court will decide what weight they carry as the trial proceeds.
Judge Recusal Request and EFCC One Year Petition Still Pending
Beyond the courtroom, the lawyer disclosed that he had written to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court asking that the case be reassigned to another judge. He cited what he called close family and community ties between the defendant and the presiding judge and said no response has been received. The claimants also filed a criminal petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) more than a year ago. He said his client supplied every document requested but has heard nothing back. Global Affairs Hub 247 will continue to follow developments and welcomes responses from all parties.
