$2.1m Abuja land: Wike’s Lawyer, Onoja warns VDM against lies or face court

By David Odama

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr James Ogwu Onoja, SAN, has warned social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), bloggers and media houses to stop circulating falsehood over the $2.1 million Abuja land suit against Barrister Jordan Nyesom Wike.

Onoja, lead counsel to Jordan Wike, said those who continue to push the narrative that his client admitted receiving $2.1 million will face both criminal and civil actions for malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel.

He was reacting to an interview granted by I.G. Wuru, counsel to Safwan Garba, who filed the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/008/2026 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In the interview, Wuru allegedly insinuated that Jordan Wike admitted receiving the disputed $2.1 million from the plaintiff over an Abuja land deal.

Onoja said the claim was quickly picked up and amplified by VDM, Sahara Reporters and other online platforms.

He described the reports as unverified, malicious and most reprehensible.

“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.,” he said.

“In the unverified reports, it was aired most maliciously that Jordan Wike admitted receiving $2.1 million for Abuja property. This story circulated by Sahara Reporters and VeryDarkMan is most reprehensible.”

He said other platforms including Port Harcourt Specials, The Cable, Ogoni Times, Magic FM Aba, Information Nigeria, Kalabari TV, Sorosoye Gossip and Edo Updates have continued to peddle the falsehood daily.

Onoja said the campaign is aimed at tarnishing his client’s image, whipping up public sentiments and intimidating the judge.

“This haze of lies and malicious fabrication appears to be an orchestrated media campaign intended to whip up sentiments, compromise the mind of the public and intimidate the judge,” he said.

Setting the record straight, the SAN said Jordan Wike never admitted receiving any money from Safwan Garba.

“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,” he said.

He said his client maintained that defence while giving evidence in court on September 28 and 30, 2026.

Onoja said it was baffling that Wuru would grant such an interview weeks after proceedings, at the Federal High Court Abuja, misrepresenting what transpired at the FCT High Court.

He said his team had refrained from public comments because the matter is sub judice, but the daily name-calling and barrage of lies made it necessary to speak.

He accused Safwan Garba of trying his case on social media instead of allowing the court to decide.

On the EFCC petition being circulated, Onoja said it was his team that tendered the letter in court to expose inconsistencies in Safwan Garba’s claims.

According to him, Safwan Garba kept the vital document away from his pleadings and failed to follow up with the EFCC after realising the lies were too glaring.

He urged the public to disregard the vicious lies and flagrant misrepresentation by Wuru, which he described as contemptuous and unethical.

“Any member of the public, bloggers or media houses who continue to propagate this blatant falsehood will be susceptible to both criminal and civil actions,” he warned.

He demanded immediate pull-down of all defamatory publications, insinuations and conclusions against Jordan Nyesom Wike, saying they are palpably unfounded.