Rep Says Wike Committed No Infraction in FCT Borrowings

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has dismissed allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, obtained loans for the territory without the approval of the National Assembly.

Agbese, a Labour Party lawmaker from Benue State, said there was no evidence that Wike breached any law in financing projects and programmes in the FCT.

He was reacting to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT, that the administration had engaged in borrowings without securing the required legislative approval.

Kingibe said she raised the matter with the Senate leadership after reviewing information obtained from the Debt Management Office covering the period between August 2023 and March 2026.

She said she had not seen Wike appear before the Senate to seek approval for any loan, while noting that FCT budgets were presented through the relevant Senate committee before consideration and approval.

However, Agbese said it was misleading to suggest that Wike had circumvented the National Assembly or acted outside established procedures.

He explained that public borrowing was governed by constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving relevant government institutions, adding that the FCT Minister could not unilaterally create a sovereign borrowing obligation.

“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings,” Agbese said, insisting that there was no basis for claims that the minister had borrowed money without the knowledge of the National Assembly.

The lawmaker said Wike had consistently subjected the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny through budget presentations, consideration by lawmakers and appearances before relevant committees.

Agbese also argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile did not, by itself, establish that an illegal borrowing arrangement had occurred, citing major road, transport and other infrastructure projects undertaken across Abuja.

He said borrowing for infrastructure development was not unlawful provided the prescribed approvals and procedures were followed.

Agbese urged lawmakers and other stakeholders to base allegations concerning public borrowing on specific transactions and official documents, rather than political claims.

He further called on Kingibe or other concerned parties to identify any questionable transactions and invite relevant authorities to provide the documents and approvals governing them.