Jordan Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has faced a fresh development in the ongoing $2.1 million land dispute against him, following a request by the claimants’ lawyer to transfer the case to another judge.
Ibrahim Waru, counsel to Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, to reassign the suit from Court 2, presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji.
The lawyer said the request was based on concerns that the circumstances surrounding the presiding judge’s alleged connections with Jordan could create a reasonable apprehension of bias.
In a letter dated October 7, 2026, Waru asked the Chief Judge to move the case, marked CV/008/2026, to another court within the FCT High Court.
The letter was received by the Chief Judge’s chambers on October 8, according to an acknowledged copy made available to journalists in Abuja.
Titled “Request for Transfer of Suit CV/008/26 between Safwan Garba GY & Another Vs Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom Wike from Court 2 on Ground of Reasonable Apprehension of Bias,” the letter explained that the application was intended to protect confidence in the fairness of the proceedings.
Waru said the claimants’ concerns followed social media publications which, according to him, suggested that Justice Oriji and Jordan shared close geographical, community and family ties.
He argued that the circumstances could raise questions about the appearance of impartiality, even without evidence of actual bias.
“We respectfully write on behalf of our clients, the claimants, to request the transfer of the above-mentioned suit from Court 2 to another court within the FCT High Court,” the lawyer wrote.
He further stated, “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,” Waru stated.
The lawyer, however, made it clear that the application was not an accusation of misconduct against the presiding judge.
He stressed that his clients were not questioning Justice Oriji’s professional competence or integrity but wanted the case handled under circumstances that would leave no reasonable doubt about the fairness of the proceedings.
“Our clients do not equally allege actual bias against His Lordship, the presiding Judge,” he added.
“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,” the letter stated.
Waru maintained that the transfer would help protect the credibility of the judicial process and allow all parties to participate in the trial without concerns about the circumstances surrounding the choice of court.
He also urged the Chief Judge to use his administrative authority to reassign the matter, noting that such a decision would not amount to an adverse finding against Justice Oriji.
The letter stated, “Our clients are particularly concerned that, irrespective of the actual state of mind of the Honourable presiding Judge, the existing circumstance may create an impression in the mind of a reasonable observer that His Lordship’s relationship and/or common community background with the defendant could potentially influence or be perceived as capable of influencing the adjudication of the matter.”
The application is centred on the principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
The claimants believe that assigning the suit to another court would help eliminate any perception that personal or community relationships could affect the outcome.
However, the request for a transfer does not in itself establish that the presiding judge is biased.
The allegations concerning the judge’s connections with Jordan remain the basis of the claimants’ application, and no conclusion on the request has been established in the information provided.
