Nigeria AG clears Sam Jonah, directs end to criminal case over Jonah Capital, Houses for Africa

Read Time: 2 minutes

Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation has directed the termination of criminal proceedings against Ghanaian business magnate Sir Sam Jonah and three others, after concluding that no prima facie case was established in investigations linked to Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited.

The escalating dispute follows a formal petition by Ghanaian statesman Sir Sam Jonah to Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. In the petition dated December 13, 2025, Sir Jonah asked the government to intervene diplomatically after what he described as the unlawful seizure of his investments in Abuja’s River Park Estate by the CAC.

The decision was communicated in a series of official correspondence from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, following a comprehensive review of police case files and investigations.

The AGF determined that allegations of forgery, fraud and related offences against Mr Samuel Esson Jonah, Mr Kojo Ansah Mensah, Mr Victor Quainoo and Mr Abu Arome could not be sustained.

According to the Attorney General’s findings, investigations conducted by the Nigeria Police Force failed to meet the required burden and standard of proof to establish criminal liability. “No prima facie case of forgery and other related offences… has been established against the aforementioned individuals,” the AGF stated in reference to Charge No. CR/402/25.

The Attorney General also affirmed the findings of a Special Investigation Panel on petitions relating to Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited and the River Park Estate in Lugbe, dated March 28, 2025, describing the report as “valid, comprehensive and unbiased.”

In contrast, the AGF criticised the conclusions of the IGP Monitoring Unit, describing them as “highly misleading” and faulting attempts to frame what it said was a commercial dispute as a criminal matter, contrary to Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The correspondence further raised concerns about a police press conference held on June 27, 2025, during which certain individuals were publicly identified as owners and managers of the River Park Estate without any judicial determination.

The Attorney General said such pronouncements were inappropriate and exceeded the lawful authority of the police.

In addition, the AGF directed Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to immediately reverse any administrative actions taken against the affected companies based on the disputed police investigation report.

The CAC was also cautioned to refrain from steps that could undermine ongoing court processes.

Beyond terminating the case against the four individuals, the Attorney General requested fresh investigations into allegations of criminal intimidation, assault and destruction of property at the River Park Estate, reportedly involving individuals acting on the directives of one Paul Odili.

The Nigeria Police Force was further asked to ensure the safety of residents and allow for the peaceful enjoyment of property at the estate.