The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has directed the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, to reverse what he described as “fraudulent filings” affecting two Abuja-based companies, Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited.
The directive was contained in a correspondence signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), M.B. Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF, and obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday.
The decision followed a broader intervention by the Attorney-General, who also terminated criminal proceedings earlier instituted by the Nigeria Police Force against some Ghanaian investors linked to the River Park Estate in Abuja.
The AGF described the police investigation as “misleading, legally defective, and an abuse of authority.”
According to the DPPF, the AGF reached his decision after a comprehensive review of investigation files submitted by the police, including reports from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit and a 13-man Special Investigation Panel (SIP).
The AGF ruled that there was “no basis for criminal prosecution” against Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Mr Kojo Ansah Mensah, Mr Victor Quainoo, and Mr Abu Arome, who had been accused of fraud and forgery in relation to the ownership and management of River Park Estate.
“No prima facie case of forgery and other related offences as contained in Charge No: CR/402/25 has been established against the aforementioned individuals,” the DPP stated.
As a result, the 26-count charge earlier announced by the police was formally discontinued.
The Attorney-General’s decision effectively overturned the findings of the IGP Monitoring Unit led by Commissioner of Police, Mr Akin Fakorede, which had accused the Ghanaian investors of criminal conduct following a widely publicised press conference on June 26 and 27, 2025.
The AGF faulted the Monitoring Unit for attempting to criminalise a commercial dispute.
“The investigation and findings by the IGP Monitoring Unit disregarded the burden and standard of proof necessary to establish criminal liability and inappropriately attempted to characterise a commercial disagreement as a criminal matter, contrary to Section 8(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015,” the circular stated.
The AGF further stressed that the Nigeria Police Force lacks jurisdiction to determine land ownership or adjudicate contractual disputes, warning that such actions exceed the lawful authority of law enforcement agencies.
In contrast, the AGF affirmed the findings of the Special Investigation Panel led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Imam, describing its March 28, 2025, report as “valid, comprehensive, and unbiased.”
The controversy had earlier deepened after the Ghanaian investors alleged that the SIP report was suppressed by the IGP Monitoring Unit.
In a petition dated May 22, 2025, Sir Sam Jonah informed the AGF that although the SIP report had been disclosed to all parties on the 9th of April by the Office of the IGP, CP Fakorede later abandoned it and commenced a fresh investigation.
Beyond the discontinued criminal case, the AGF also addressed alleged administrative irregularities at the CAC.
The Ministry of Justice noted that on the 8th of December 2025, the Commission altered the shareholding structure of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited despite pending court proceedings and formal notices from the AGF’s office.
Following his review, the AGF directed the CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, to restore the ownership and shareholding of the affected companies to the status quo ante, their position before the disputed changes.
The AGF also observed that allegations of destruction of property, criminal intimidation, and assault allegedly carried out by individuals acting under the directives of one Paul Odili had not been adequately investigated.
Accordingly, he directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the allegations and submit a detailed report.
The police were also instructed to ensure peace and security within River Park Estate and allow residents to enjoy their properties without harassment.
The dispute has attracted international attention. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had earlier petitioned the ECOWAS Conference of Foreign Ministers, alleging harassment and intimidation of Ghanaian investments in Nigeria, including those linked to Sir Sam Jonah.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had constituted a separate investigative committee led by the FCT Administration’s General Counsel, Salman Dako, in response to rising tensions and reported violent incidents within the estate.
Legal observers say the Attorney-General’s intervention could mark a turning point in the protracted River Park Estate dispute, reinforcing the distinction between civil commercial disagreements and criminal prosecution, while raising questions about the conduct of some law enforcement and regulatory officials.
