The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has overturned the investigation conducted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Monitoring Unit on some Ghanaian businessmen operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The decision followed a comprehensive review of all investigation files submitted by the police and was conveyed in an official circular issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
In the circular, referenced DPPA/REQ/224/25 and dated December 30, 2025, the AGF ruled that there was no basis for criminal prosecution against the Ghanaian investors, namely Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Mr. Kojo Ansah Mensah, Mr. Victor Quainoo and Mr. Abu Arome.
According to the DPP, no prima facie case of forgery or other related offences, as contained in Charge No: CR/402/25, was established against the individuals. Consequently, the 26-count charge of fraud and forgery earlier announced by the police was discontinued in its entirety.
The AGF also affirmed the findings of the 13-man Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by DCP Imam, which had earlier investigated petitions relating to Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited. He described the SIP report as valid, comprehensive and unbiased.
In contrast, the investigation carried out by the IGP Monitoring Unit under CP Akin Fakorede was described as misleading and legally defective. The AGF noted that the probe attempted to criminalise what was essentially a commercial and contractual dispute, contrary to Section 8(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“The investigation and findings by the IGP Monitoring Unit were highly misleading, as they disregarded the burden and standard of proof required to establish criminal liability and inappropriately characterised a commercial disagreement as a criminal matter,” the circular stated.
The AGF further faulted a press conference held in June 2025 by CP Fakorede and the then Force Public Relations Officer, during which Sir Sam Jonah and others were publicly accused of fraud. He ruled that the action was unlawful and prejudicial, stressing that the police lacked the authority to declare ownership or management of River Park Estate without judicial determination.
The circular emphasised that the police do not have jurisdiction to independently determine land ownership or adjudicate contractual disputes.
Following the press conference, the affected investors had alleged that the SIP report was suppressed and replaced with a unilateral investigation by the Monitoring Unit. In a petition dated May 22, 2025, Sir Sam Jonah informed the AGF that although the SIP report had been disclosed to parties in April, they were later told that it had been jettisoned in favour of a fresh investigation.
Amid rising tensions and reported violent incidents at River Park Estate, the Minister of the FCT constituted an investigative committee led by the General Counsel of the FCT Administration, Salman Dako.
The matter further escalated after allegations that, on December 8, 2025, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) altered the shareholding structure of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited despite pending court processes. The AGF has since directed the Registrar-General of the CAC to restore the ownership and shareholding of the affected companies to their status quo before the changes.
The AGF also drew attention to unresolved allegations of violence within the estate, noting that claims of destruction of property, criminal intimidation and assault allegedly carried out by suspected thugs remain uninvestigated.
