Sir Sam Jonah, a Ghanaian businessman, has formally petitioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, seeking urgent diplomatic intervention over the alleged unlawful seizure of his investments in Nigeria by that country’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In a detailed 11-page “Concise Summary” dated December 13, 2025, Sir Jonah outlines a complex dispute over Abuja’s River Park Estate, accusing Nigerian authorities of expropriating his shares and sidelining the courts.
The petition calls on the Ghanaian government to engage its Nigerian counterparts, alert ECOWAS about potential breaches of regional investment protections, and demand the immediate reversal of the CAC’s actions to protect millions of dollars in Ghanaian-led investments.
This move elevates the high-stakes corporate battle to a matter of state, requiring diplomatic engagement between the two West African neighbours.
Sir Jonah details that the crisis stems from a demand for accountability from a local Nigerian agent, Paul Odili of Paulo Homes Ltd, over land encroachment within the estate.
The dispute escalated into legal battles and conflicting police reports.
This comes on the back of an action by the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN).
Despite being served with a court injunction, he allegedly cancelled all corporate filings for JonahCapital Nigeria Ltd and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd on December 8, 2025.
“To our utter shock, on Monday, 8th December 2025, upon checking the company status report, we discovered that the entire corporate records of our companies had been cancelled by Mr. Magaji SAN,” Sir Jonah stated in the petition.
This action, he argues, unlawfully reduced his shareholding and was based on a disputed police report by DCP Akin Fakorede, which contradicted the findings of a 10-man Special Investigation Panel (SIP) that had earlier investigated allegations of document forgery.
Sir Jonah’s summary traces the history of his investment from the incorporation of JonahCapital in 2006, through a 2007 Development Lease with the FCDA, and complex share restructuring that eventually left his entities as the primary holders.
He alleges that local agents, including Paul Odili—who was engaged to secure permits—have since misrepresented themselves as owners, sold off estate land illegally, and used fabricated criminal allegations to gain an upper hand in the dispute.
The petition warns that the CAC’s action has created a severe risk of asset dissipation and renders the companies incapable of defending themselves in ongoing court cases.
Sir Jonah is now urging the Foreign Minister to take immediate action to protect the rights of Ghanaian nationals and their investments in Nigeria, a key but sometimes challenging market for Ghanaian businesses within the ECOWAS region.
