The United States Mission in Nigeria has warned that corrupt individuals in the country may be denied U.S. visas.
In a post on its X account on Monday, the Mission stated, “Fighting corruption knows no borders or limits on accountability. Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving U.S. Visas.”
The warning comes amid allegations of corruption, money laundering, property laundering, and illicit property acquisition involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Fighting corruption knows no borders or limits on accountability. Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving U.S. Visas.#VisaWiseTravelSmart pic.twitter.com/RMhO06e1bY
— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) September 22, 2025
Earlier on Monday, SaharaReporters reported that human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, had petitioned the Attorney General of Florida, Hon. James Uthmeier, seeking the forfeiture and prosecution of Wike over illicit property acquisitions in the U.S.
In the petition dated September 22, 2025, and signed by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., Sowore accused Wike of secretly purchasing multi-million-dollar real estate in Florida using suspicious cash transactions designed to conceal the source of funds.
According to the petition, Wike, a former Rivers State Governor, alongside his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, purchased three luxury lakeside properties in Winter Springs, Seminole County, Florida, valued at over $6 million.
The petition listed the properties as 113 Springcreek Lane, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 5,000 sq. ft. residence purchased in cash for $535,000 and transferred to Jordan Wike (25); 209 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,401 sq. ft. home acquired for $459,157 in cash and transferred to Joaquin Wike (23); and 208 Hertherwood Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708, which is a 3,901 sq. ft. home bought for $465,000 in cash and transferred to Jazmyne Wike (20).
Sowore’s lawyers said the purchases were executed through quit claim deeds between July 2021 and September 2023 and transferred directly to Wike’s children. They argued that the cash-only acquisitions bypassed banking oversight and raised “serious money laundering concerns.”
Breach of Nigerian and U.S. Laws
The petition alleges that Wike failed to declare these foreign assets to Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as required under the Constitution.
It further noted that his legitimate income as a public servant since 1999 could not sustain such multi-million-dollar acquisitions.
Adeyanju argued that the transactions violated both Florida state law and U.S. federal anti-money laundering statutes, specifically citing the Florida Money Laundering Act (Chapter 896.101, Fla. Stat.), the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, and federal laws under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957.
He also referenced the U.S. Department of Justice Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which targets assets linked to corrupt foreign officials.
Pattern of Alleged Corruption
Beyond Florida, Sowore alleged that Wike, in his capacity as FCT Minister, had been involved in “large-scale land grabs” in Abuja, allocating over 3,800 hectares valued at $6.45 billion to his children through shell companies and proxies.
Sowore’s Demands
In his petition, Sowore urged the Florida Attorney General to investigate the source of funds used in the acquisitions, commence forfeiture proceedings against the identified properties in Seminole County, institute criminal prosecution against all parties involved in the transactions, and impose visa bans and sanctions on Wike to prevent further abuse of U.S. territory.
Adeyanju said his client was ready to provide additional documents, testimonies, and collaborate with U.S.-based counsel to support the petition.
Sowore concluded that failure to act would amount to the U.S. providing a sanctuary for corruption proceeds.
The petition was also copied to the U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills, Jr.
Attached to the letter were reports published by Peoples Gazette, along with quitclaim deeds showing how Wike and his wife, Eberechi, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, transferred their Florida properties into the names of their children between 2021 and 2023.