A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr James Ogwu Onoja, has threatened legal action against bloggers, social media commentators and media organisations over alleged false claims that Barrister Jordan Nyesom Wike admitted receiving $2.1 million in a disputed Abuja land transaction.
Onoja, lead counsel to Wike, dismissed the reports as misleading, insisting that his client never admitted receiving money from Safwan Garba, who instituted the civil suit over the disputed property.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Onoja warned that individuals and media organisations continuing to circulate the allegations could face criminal and civil actions for malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel.
The lawyer’s reaction followed an interview reportedly granted by I.G. Waru, counsel to Garba, in which he allegedly suggested that Wike had admitted receiving the disputed $2.1 million.
Onoja accused some social media commentators, including Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and several online platforms of amplifying what he described as false narratives about the case.
He expressed concern that the reports could damage his client’s reputation and create a misleading impression of the proceedings before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“Our attention has been drawn to stories on series of blogs, comments and conclusions on social media by mischief makers and promoters of falsehood, attributed to the media briefing and interview granted by I.G. Waru, Esq., the lawyer to Safwan Garba, in respect of the suit he instituted against Jordan Wike presently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/008/2026,” the statement read.
Onoja described as reprehensible reports alleging that Wike admitted receiving $2.1 million for an Abuja property, specifically mentioning publications attributed to Sahara Reporters and VDM.
He also listed Port Harcourt Specials, TheCable, Ogoni Times, Magic FM Aba, Information Nigeria, Kalabari TV, Sorosoye Gossip and Edo Updates among the platforms he accused of circulating the allegations.
According to him, the publications appeared to be part of a media campaign capable of influencing public opinion and creating pressure around the pending case.
“For the records, Jordan Wike in his defence before the court stated in unequivocal terms that he has never met Safwan Garba G.Y. or any of his agents at any time,” Onoja said.
He added that Wike maintained this position while giving evidence in court on September 28 and 30, 2026.
The SAN questioned the timing of the interview attributed to Garba’s lawyer, noting that it was granted weeks after the court proceedings in September.
He alleged that the interview had become a source of defamatory comments, unsubstantiated claims and conclusions circulated by members of the public who had not verified the facts of the case.
Onoja said his legal team had initially refrained from making public statements because the matter remained before the court.
However, he explained that the continued circulation of allegations against his client had made it necessary to clarify his client’s position and challenge what he described as persistent misrepresentation of the proceedings.
He further argued that lawyers representing parties in a pending case should maintain professional conduct and allow the court to determine the dispute rather than engage in media activities that could mislead the public.
“Safwan Garba G.Y. instituted this action in court, but it appears he is not contented with letting the court determine the matter,” the statement said.
Onoja also addressed reports concerning a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying his legal team had presented the relevant letter in court to highlight what it considered inconsistencies in Garba’s claims.
According to him, Garba did not refer to the document in his pleadings and failed to follow up with the EFCC after submitting the letter.
Onoja alleged that the circumstances surrounding the document raised questions about the claims made against his client.
He urged members of the public to disregard the allegations against Wike, insisting that the claims attributed to Garba and his lawyer did not accurately reflect his client’s defence before the court.
The lawyer also called on bloggers, media organisations and individuals who had published the disputed reports to remove them, warning that continued circulation could attract legal consequences.
“Any member of the public, bloggers or media houses who continue to propagate this blatant falsehood against the person of Jordan Nyesom-Wike will be susceptible to both criminal and civil actions for malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel,” he warned.
He urged the public to exercise caution when sharing information about the case and allow the court to determine the dispute based on the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
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The suit, identified as FCT/HC/CV/008/2026, remains pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The allegations and counterclaims have not been independently established in the information provided. Onoja’s statement represents the position of Wike’s legal team, while the court is expected to determine the issues before it.
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