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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has debunked claims by a Ghanaian businessman, Sam Jonah, that he allocated 501 hectares of land to him for the building of River Park Estate, Abuja.
Jonah, who is a Knight of British Empire, and two other Ghanaians are to be arraigned before Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja over alleged forgery of company documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in an attempt to illegally takeover Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd, Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd and also assume ownership control of River Park Estate Abuja.
The others are Kojo Ansah and Victor Quainoo, as well as an Abuja based legal practitioner, Abu Arome and a company, Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd.
Obasanjo’s clarification was contained in a letter dated July 10, which he wrote to the Inspector General of Police.
The IGP had in a letter dated July 4, requested the former President to confirm whether the claim by Jonah that he (OBJ) allocated 501 hectares of land to him for the purpose of developing River Park Estate was true or false.
Jonah had claimed in a petition he wrote to the Police in the wake of the feud over ownership of River Park Estate that Obasanjo gave him the large expanse of land housing one of Abuja’s biggest estates.
However, acting on the petition relating to the ownership dispute of River Park Estate, Lugbe, and its affiliate companies, the Police after a discrete and thorough investigation, released its forensic report dated November 29, 2024 and a final report dated June 27, 2025.
“The claim of Sam Jonah that I invited him to allocate 501 hectares of land to him or his company or one single plot of land for that matter is absolutely untrue, fictitious, misleading and libellous,” Obasanjo stated.
Obasanjo’s response is consistent with his earlier letter to the Police, dated July 1, wherein he categorically said, if Jonah said he (OBJ) allocated any land to him at all, he’s completely mistaken in his recollection.
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Nevertheless, while the Police waited for Obasanjo’s response in furtherance of their investigation on Jonah’s petition, Arome ran to the media to announce that the IGP had ordered fresh investigation into an already concluded investigation.
It was learnt from a good source that the IGP did not order a fresh investigation as erroneously and deliberately perceived by Arome.
The accused persons are being prosecuted on a 26-count charge filed against them by the Nigerian Police over their alleged involvement in the forgery of company documents and filing the same at the CAC Abuja.
The charge, signed by Isa Garba, prosecuting counsel, legal/prosecution section, Force Headquarters, Abuja, as well as Maureen Okonkwo, Registrar, High Court of the FCT, Abuja, marked CR/402/2025, was dated June 25, but filed on June 26.
Specifically, the complainant (IGP), alleged that the accused persons had illegally increased the company’s share capital and allocated 99 million shares to themselves using falsified documents and forged signatures, also falsely presenting themselves as Nigerian citizens to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to facilitate their alleged fraudulent activities.
In a bid to prove its case of fraud, forgery and impersonation against the defendants, the police had listed alongside the charge, several exhibits namely, letters of petition to the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, respectively.
Also attached to the charge are copies of the final police investigation report, statements of the defendants and a letter of relinquishment of 8,000,000 shares allegedly signed by John Townley Johnson on Houses for Africa Holding Inc letterhead, which police through forensic have confirmed forged.
Other exhibits include board resolution of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd dated September 9, 2013, appointing and removing directors, various status reports of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd, and that of Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd, all of which was done through fraudulent means.
The charge was also accompanied by forensic reports from key forensics Ltd, and the Nigerian Police.
Furthermore, the board’s resolution used to remove the Nigerian directors from Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd/Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd, board’s resolution used to increase share capital of Houses for Africa, and Jonahcapital, and title documents processed in Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd were equally listed as exhibits by the police as they were done without authority and fraudulently.
