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“Court Restrains IGP, EFCC From Interfering In River Park Estate Dispute” — Ghanaian Developers Allege Harassment, Seek ₦200m In Damages

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing them from taking any further steps in connection with the contentious River Park Estate land dispute.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the interim injunction following an application by the developers of the estate—JonahCapital Ltd and Houses for Africa Ltd—and their directors, including Ghanaian businessmen Samuel Esson Jonah, Kojo Ansah Mensah, and Victor Quainoo, alongside their lawyer, Abu Arome.

Other parties restrained from further action include the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Saka Adewale; DCP Akin Fakorede, Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit; FCT Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas; EFCC investigator Eunice Vou Dalyop; and one Kabiru Baba.

The plaintiffs, through their lead counsel, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1130/2025) in response to what they described as harassment, intimidation, and duplicative investigations by both the police and the EFCC. They are seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent further arrests, invitations, or detention relating to the dispute over the estate’s ownership and development agreements.

The developers allege that the Inspector-General previously constituted an 11-member Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to harmonise multiple petitions received regarding the estate. While the panel concluded its report and submitted it to the IGP, they claim its findings were not shared with the concerned parties despite formal requests.

They further told the court that instead of implementing the SIP’s findings, the IGP Monitoring Unit—led by Fakorede—launched a fresh investigation, inviting and allegedly intimidating the Ghanaian investors. The EFCC, they added, compounded the issue by detaining Kojo Ansah Mensah, CEO of JonahCapital, for several days.

In response to these developments, the investors petitioned the Police Service Commission, chaired by Hashimu Argungu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, seeking their intervention against what they described as a misuse of state investigative powers.

The plaintiffs are also asking the court to compel the police and the EFCC to release the SIP report and are claiming N200 million in damages for alleged violation of their rights.

Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to June 26, 2025, for further hearing.

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