By Juliana Francis
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has overturned a controversial investigation by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Monitoring Unit led by Commissioner of Police, Mr Akin Fakorede, against some Ghanaian businessmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The decision was conveyed in an official circular issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, after a comprehensive review of all investigation files submitted by the police.
The circular, dated December 30, 2025, and referenced DPPA/REQ/224/25, was obtained on Thursday.
In the directive, the AGF ruled that there was no basis for criminal prosecution against the affected investors, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Mr Kojo Ansah Mensah, Mr Victor Quainoo and Mr Abu Arome, Esq, thereby discontinuing in its entirety the 26-count charge of fraud and forgery earlier announced by the police.
According to the DPPF, “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 AGF also affirmed the findings of a 13-man Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Imam, which had earlier investigated petitions relating to Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited.
“The investigation and findings by the Special Investigation Panel on Petitions relating to Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited… dated 28th March 2025 are valid, comprehensive, unbiased and are thus affirmed,” the circular partly read.
By contrast, the AGF described the Monitoring Unit investigation led by CP Fakorede as misleading and legally defective, faulting it for criminalising what he said was essentially a commercial and contractual dispute.
“The investigation and findings by the IGP Monitoring Unit were highly misleading, disregarding 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 AGF stated.
The controversy dates back to early 2025, when disputes arose over the management and ownership of properties linked to Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, particularly within River Park Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The investors claimed that despite an official Special Investigation Panel (SIP) validating their claims, the NPF Monitoring Unit conducted a separate investigation that allegedly suppressed the SIP findings.
On June 26 and 27, 2025, CP Fakorede and the then Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, held a widely publicised press conference during which Sir Sam Jonah and his associates were accused of fraud.
The press briefing drew criticism for being premature and prejudicial, as the matter was still under investigation.
Following the press conference, the investors alleged that the Monitoring Unit had ignored the SIP report and conducted a unilateral probe.
Tensions at River Park Estate escalated amid reports of encroachments, violent incidents and allegations of thuggery.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, subsequently constituted an investigative committee, led by Salman Dako, General Counsel of the FCTA, to further probe the disputes.
In another development, the investors claimed that on December 8, 2025, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) altered the shareholding structure of the companies despite court processes and AGF notices, a move that sparked diplomatic concern.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, petitioned the ECOWAS Conference of Foreign Ministers, citing harassment and intimidation of Ghanaian investments in Nigeria, particularly those linked to Sir Sam Jonah.
Following his review, the AGF directed the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, to restore the ownership and shareholding of the affected companies to their status quo ante, i.e., their position before the December 8 alterations.
The AGF also drew attention to unresolved allegations of violence within the estate, noting: “It has been observed that allegations of destruction of property, criminal intimidation, and assault… allegedly by thugs acting pursuant to the directives of Paul Odili remain uninvestigated”.
