Sir Sam Jonah
JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Sir Jonah’s investment group owned by Ghanaian businessman, Sir Sam Jonah has dragged the Nigerian government to international arbitration over a disputed 501-hectare land in Abuja, in a case valued at an estimated $500 million.
The arbitration is being heard at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. It follows the November 2025 termination of a development lease on Plot 4, Cadastral Zone E30, Lugbe West, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The property held by JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, was allocated in 2007 under Nigeria’s Mass Housing Scheme and later developed into River Park Estate — one of Abuja’s largest private estates with residential units, offices, shops, clinics and places of worship.
JonahCapital claims its lease is valid until June 2030 and that Nigeria breached the agreement. In its filing, the company accuses the Federal Capital Development Authority of failing to provide basic infrastructure like roads, water and electricity, forcing the developer to fund them.
It also alleges breaches on building approval fees, and that authorities fenced off parts of the land while arbitration is ongoing.
The company further claims it spent years fighting off third-party attempts to claim portions of the estate during development.
Nigeria’s position
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike confirmed the arbitration is underway.
“The other party has gone to arbitration and we say okay, until you finish from arbitration,” he said. The minister insists the government lawfully recovered the land after the lease expired. He also said some developments on the site were done by Paulo Homes Limited, a separate firm engaged by JonahCapital for approvals.
Alongside the arbitration, Nigerian authorities have filed a 26-count criminal charge against Sir Sam Jonah and others at the FCT High Court. The charges relate to alleged forgery and unlawful share allocation in companies linked to the Abuja project.
Sir Jonah denies the allegations.
The case has become a diplomatic issue. In late 2025 Sir Jonah petitioned Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over threats to his investment.
Ablakwa later raised the matter at an ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja, citing it as an example of challenges facing Ghanaian investors in Nigeria.
He had earlier visited River Park Estate and pledged government support for protecting Ghanaian businesses abroad.
By choosing ICC arbitration, the dispute will be decided by an independent tribunal.
Awards under the New York Convention, which Nigeria has signed, are enforceable in over 170 countries. No date has been set for the hearing. The criminal proceedings in Nigeria are also pending.
Sir Sam Jonah holds investments in mining, energy and real estate across Africa, with River Park among his biggest property projects outside Ghana.