President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the apparent corruption and abuse of office by Abuja Minister Nyesom Wike, The Peoples Gazette can report. 

State House sources said the president issued the directive on Thursday night, although details were not finalised until Friday afternoon.

“The president agreed that the minister’s activity as reported in the media was suspicious and ordered a probe to determine if he had illegally enriched himself,” a presidential aide told The Gazette by telephone on Friday afternoon.

“The SGF’s office would be coordinating the probe, and we encourage anyone who may have seen any wrongdoing in government to always bring such to the attention of the administration,” the official added under anonymity to discuss an investigation. 

The official did not immediately say whether anti-graft departments, such as the EFCC and ICPC, would be involved in the inquiry, which could last several months. A spokesman for the SGF George Akume did not immediately return a request seeking comment about the development. 

Another source said the probe might not have been announced because the president didn’t want to be seen as being antagonistic towards Mr Wike, who has received recognition for his handling of federal projects across the nation’s capital. 

However, anti-corruption activist Lanre Suraju said the probe should be rigorous and transparent to prevent a repeat of the futility that characterised such inquiries in the past.

“That is most astonishing, but we need to be careful, going by past experiences of camaraderie and solidarity in public office and the president’s several public praises of Mr Wike,” Mr Suraju said of the investigation. “Such panels need to make public their process and involve the services of seasoned investigators from law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations,  including forensic and CAC registry analysis.”

The Gazette had reported on Thursday that Mr Wike had allocated lucrative lands across the FCT to one of his sons, Joaquin. The minister acquired approximately 2,082 hectares of land in his son’s name, with municipal officials stating that the assets could be sold for over $3.6 billion. 

Following public outrage, Mr Wike issued a statement, saying the lands were awarded to a company for farming purposes without saying that the company, Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd, belonged to his son. 

The minister also stated that no laws barred him from granting land rights to his family members. This assertion contradicts Article 5 of the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits the use of public office for personal gain. 

Asked if his principal would cooperate with the investigation, a spokesman for Mr Wike declined to comment on Friday afternoon.