Nigerian human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, has petitioned the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, accusing former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, of laundering public funds to acquire properties in the United States.
Sowore revealed that he had formally contacted the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, currently headed by James Uthmeier, to notify authorities about what he described as “first-class felonies” involving the trafficking of illicit wealth into American real estate.
According to Sowore, three properties located in Winter Springs, Florida, were traced directly to Wike.
The activist stated that the assets were deliberately hidden under the name of Wike’s wife, Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, a serving judge at Nigeria’s Court of Appeal.
He further claimed that the properties had been distributed among Wike’s children, creating the appearance of legitimate family holdings while masking their alleged illicit origins.
Sowore noted that investigations are ongoing and that there may be additional assets yet to be uncovered.
Sowore, who has long been known for his uncompromising criticism of corruption in the Nigerian government, described the discovery as a stark example of how public officials siphon funds from the nation and move them abroad.
He pointed out that laundering proceeds of crime across international borders violates not only Nigerian anti-corruption laws but also U.S. statutes that classify such offenses as felonies punishable by severe legal consequences.
The activist emphasised that this is not the first time Nigerian politicians have been implicated in funneling stolen money into foreign properties, but he expressed determination to pursue the matter until accountability is achieved.
Sowore himself is no stranger to controversy and legal battles.
As a former presidential candidate and outspoken advocate for democracy and human rights, he has repeatedly faced arrests, charges, and restrictions over his campaigns against bad governance and entrenched corruption in Nigeria.
However, despite these challenges, he has continued to lead investigations and expose what he calls systemic looting by political elites.
According to the human rights activist, “It turns out that international thief Nyesom Wike has three different properties in Winter Springs, Florida. All of them were hidden under the name of his wife, Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, who also serves as a Court of Appeal judge in Nigeria, and shared out to his children.
“There may be even more properties, but we are making progress. We have already contacted the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier to notify them that Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – CON, GSSRS has laundered stolen funds (proceeds of crime) to purchase and traffic properties in their state, which are first-class felonies.”
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, admitted that he recently travelled abroad for a “holiday”, stressing that it was the first time he had taken a break since assuming office.
Speaking at a public event on Thursday, Wike dismissed rumours that he had been hospitalised, describing such claims as “lies” spread on social media.
Wike claimed his decision to travel without official files was deliberate, adding that leaders must also find time to rest.
The minister also took a swipe at social critics, particularly activist, Omoyele Sowore, who has frequently criticised President Bola Tinubu.
Wike said Sowore was “lucky” that Tinubu is a tolerant leader, warning that under another president, such criticism could have serious consequences.
Sowore had lambasted the minister saying he should be facing criminal charges at the ICC in The Hague and not be in leadership if Nigeria was working.
The exchange comes as the Department of Security Services (DSS) moved against Sowore over his social-media posts, an action that has itself provoked legal pushback from the activist.
Meanwhile, Sowore had filed suit challenging the DSS’s demands and seeking orders to prevent social platforms from deleting his posts, arguing the agency’s actions violate his constitutional right to free expression.