Ghanaian nationals under the National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria (NAGHACON) on Thursday raised the alarm over ongoing disruptions and safety concerns targeting one of their firms, JonahCapital at the River Park Estate in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists before the protest on Thursday, the leadership of the Ghanaian association warned that the escalation of targeted actions against the firm could strain diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Ghana, if left unchecked.
The association’s executive committee, representing Ghanaian citizens across all 36 states of Nigeria, revealed they had dispatched a delegation to Abuja to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the unfolding situation at the estate.
Speaking on behalf of the association, NAGHACON National President, Lukman Tetteh, and General Secretary, Edwards Domfe, stated that the group’s leadership travelled from various parts of Nigeria to assess the physical damage at the estate and stand in solidarity, calling for an impartial, indepenent probe.
“Our first objective is to ascertain, at first hand, the incidents that have occurred at JonahCapital’s River Park Estate,” the executive committee stated.
“We have had the opportunity to visit the Gallery Clubhouse and various sites, including the gate house and other structures belonging to JonahCapital, to witness the destruction for ourselves.”
During their inspection, the association noted a distinct pattern, pointing out that JonahCapital appeared to be uniquely targeted amid a broader ecosystem of businesses operating within the estate.
“We have observed that several other companies continue to operate undisturbed within River Park Estate, with the exception of JonahCapital. We have also observed the various walls that have been erected around properties belonging to JonahCapital,” the leadership observed.
The current crisis follows a string of legal and administrative hurdles JonahCapital has faced over the past year.
The association recalled that last year, a police investigation wrongly accused the company of forgery — an issue that ultimately required the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who cleared the company’s directors of any wrongdoing.
Furthermore, NAGHACON referenced previous interventions by the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that had initially brought clarity to the estate’s ownership.
“We were glad, last year, to see media reports of an interview granted by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, in which his Ministerial Committee resolved the dispute over ownership of the company and declared JonahCapital the recognised party to the Development Lease Agreement,” the statement read.
However, the dispute reignited after the FCT Minister determined that the Development Lease Agreement had expired — a position JonahCapital has since legally contested.
“We are aware, too, that JonahCapital has challenged this position, and that this matter is now properly before a court of law. It is therefore deeply troubling that actions compromising the safety of the company should be taken while this process is under way,” NAGHACON noted.
Expressing deep concern over the subversion of the judicial process, NAGHACON warned that aggressive actions against Abuja’s most prominent Ghanaian business could spark unintended, wider consequences across the West African sub-region.
The association drew a sobering parallel to historical precedents of regional unrest, urging stakeholders to handle the commercial dispute with extreme care to avoid stoking nationalist tensions.
“Today, we are all witnesses to the xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has led to reprisals and, tragically, the deaths of African migrants. That unfortunate chapter began with incidents not unlike this one, and gradually grew into what we now witness,” the committee warned.
“NAGHACON, as the principal body representing Ghanaians in Nigeria, is concerned about this possibility, as well as about the security and safety of the Ghanaians connected with this company and this estate. We are concerned that a matter currently before the courts is not being allowed to run its course, while these actions continue to be taken against JonahCapital’s staff and assets.”
In a direct bid to de-escalate the situation, the association has called upon Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Ghanaian President, John Mahama, to intervene diplomatically, ensure the safety of expatriates, and allow the rule of law to prevail.
“We use this medium to appeal to the Presidents of both Ghana and Nigeria to call those responsible for these actions to order, and to allow the court to determine this matter. We also ask that the safety and security of the Ghanaians involved be guaranteed.”
The leadership concluded with an appeal to long-standing bilateral ties, expressing hope that the intervention would “preserve the enduring brotherhood between Ghana and Nigeria.”
SaharaReporters had last week reported an operation involving armed policemen at the River Park Estate in Lugbe, Abuja.
The armed policemen, allegedly attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Nigeria Police Force, were seen escorting a group of men to The Gallery Clubhouse, a recreational facility owned by Ghanaian investment company JonahCapital.
It was learnt that during the operation, part of the facility’s entrance was reportedly excavated, an action the company has described as an unlawful invasion of its property.
Witnesses further claimed that the officers prevented members of staff from interfering with the operation and declined to disclose the authority under which they were acting when questioned.
One of the videos captured a tense exchange between a staff member and one of the policemen after the employee began recording the incident.
JonahCapital has since condemned the incident, describing it as an unlawful invasion of its property and calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a prolonged ownership and legal dispute involving River Park Estate, one of Abuja’s largest residential developments.
Competing claims over the ownership and control of JonahCapital Nigeria Limited and related companies have resulted in multiple court cases, police investigations and public exchanges over the past two years.
