*Nigerian Police File 26-Count Charge Against Lawyer, Ghanaian Businessmen Over Alleged Takeover Plot
Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered all parties involved in the ownership dispute over River Park Estate, Abuja, to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit. The directive was issued following a motion by JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, which expressed concerns over the alleged processing of land documents—specifically the Right of Occupancy (R of O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)—despite the unresolved ownership issues.
River Park Estate, a premium development along Airport Road, has become a flashpoint of legal contention between JonahCapital and the Registered Trustees of Dunamis International Church. JonahCapital alleges that Dunamis unlawfully occupies parts of the estate and converted some areas, including for parking use, while Dunamis maintains it was lawfully allocated the land by authorities.
During the court sitting, Justice Oriji also granted an application to correct the first defendant’s name from Dunamis International Christian Centre to its proper legal entity, the Registered Trustees of Dunamis International Church. Counsel to the claimant, John Idoko, emphasized the importance of clarifying the party’s legal identity to avoid procedural ambiguity.
The court restated its earlier directive restraining the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and all other parties from taking further actions regarding the disputed estate, including processing of land titles. Dunamis’ counsel, Barr. Felix Tyokase, welcomed the name correction but rejected the encroachment claims, stating that “no evidence has been presented to support those allegations.”
In a related development, the Nigerian Police Force has filed a 26-count criminal charge against lawyer Abu Arome and three Ghanaian nationals—Sir Sam Jonah (KBE), Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo—as well as Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd. The charges, filed before the FCT High Court on June 26, 2025, allege conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and unlawful attempts to take control of JonahCapital Nigeria Ltd and Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd.
According to the police, the accused fraudulently increased the companies’ share capital and allocated 99 million shares to themselves using falsified documents and forged signatures. Forensic evidence reportedly confirms that signatures on critical documents, including a share relinquishment letter purportedly from John Townley Johnson of Houses for Africa Holding Inc., were forged.
The prosecution also cited manipulated board resolutions, CAC filings, and falsified identity claims by the Ghanaian defendants, who allegedly posed as Nigerian citizens to perfect the scheme.
The court has received an array of evidentiary documents including police investigation reports, forensic analyses, statements from the accused, and corporate filings allegedly used to perpetrate the fraud.
These criminal proceedings add a new layer of complexity to the River Park Estate dispute, as Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd, one of the defendants in the charge, is reportedly linked to actions surrounding the estate’s land titles.
The ownership crisis over River Park Estate and the forgery allegations highlight the growing tensions in Nigeria’s real estate and corporate governance sectors, with high-profile legal, political, and international business interests entangled in the unfolding drama. The court has adjourned the civil matter to a later date for continuation of hearing, while the criminal case is set for arraignment.