The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has directed the termination of criminal charges against Ghanaian investors and their Nigerian lawyer in the long-running River Park Estate dispute in Abuja. The decision follows a comprehensive review of police and investigative files and was set out in a special report signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Baba Abubakar, dated 30 December 2025.
The investors cleared are Samuel Esson Jonah, Kojo Ansah Mensah, Victor Quainoo, and their counsel Abu Arome Esq. The DPP’s report concluded that no prima facie case of forgery or related offences—central to Charge No: CRJ402/25—has been established against them.
River Park Estate ruling restores investor confidence
The AGF’s findings affirm an earlier special investigation panel report of 28 March 2025 as valid, comprehensive and unbiased. By contrast, the report criticised a subsequent IGP Monitoring Unit review as misleading, saying it improperly sought to convert a commercial dispute over ownership, shareholdings and contractual obligations into a criminal matter contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
In explicit terms, the Attorney General instructed the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to rescind any administrative measures taken on the basis of the now-discredited police report and to refrain from actions that could undermine judicial authority. The ruling also emphasised that the police lack jurisdiction to make conclusive statements about land ownership or to adjudicate contractual disputes in the absence of judicial determination.
While the charges against the Ghanaian investors have been dropped, the AGF directed that the Nigeria Police investigate separate allegations of criminal intimidation, assault and destruction of property allegedly linked to another party, identified in the report as Paul Odili. The force was also reminded of its statutory duty to ensure the safety and peaceful enjoyment of residents at River Park Estate.
The decision drew swift praise from Kojo Ansah Mensah, CEO of JonahCapital Nigeria and Houses for Africa, who described the AGF’s intervention as timely and restorative for foreign investors. In his statement, Mensah thanked Nigerian and Ghanaian officials, legal teams and residents for their support during the dispute and reiterated the investors’ commitment to lawful business operations and contributions to the Nigerian economy.
Legal teams named in the response included senior counsel S. I. Ameh (SAN), Chief Paul Harris Ogbole (SAN), Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), Mr Lawrence Alobi Esq and Mr Abu Arome Esq. The AGF’s directive effectively reverses the administrative expropriation of shares that had been effected by the CAC following the disputed police findings.
Observers say the River Park Estate ruling could have wider implications for investor protection in Nigeria by signalling the government’s willingness to correct official overreach and to uphold due process when foreign investors are involved. The AGF’s action highlights the role of institutional review in resolving high-profile commercial disputes and may help restore confidence among regional investors and partners.
The DPP’s report and the AGF’s directions mark a significant development in the case and set a clear path for further police inquiries into allegations of intimidation and property damage. For residents and investors at River Park Estate, the ruling offers immediate relief and a legal pathway to restore rights affected by earlier administrative decisions.
Key Takeaways:
- The Attorney General of the Federation has directed termination of charges after a DPP review, affirming there is no prima facie case against Ghanaian investors.
- The River Park Estate ruling orders the CAC to rescind actions based on the Police IGP Monitoring Unit report and protects investors’ shares.
- The Nigeria Police have been asked to investigate alleged intimidation and property destruction linked to rival parties and to secure residents’ safety.
- CEO Kojo Mensah welcomed the decision, saying it restores confidence among foreign investors and reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to due process.
