Prominent Ghanaian businessman Sir Sam Jonah has formally petitioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, seeking urgent diplomatic intervention following the alleged unlawful seizure of his investments in Nigeria by the country’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In an 11-page “Concise Summary” dated December 13, 2025, Sir Jonah detailed a dispute over Abuja’s River Park Estate, claiming that Nigerian authorities expropriated his shares and bypassed the courts in taking control of his companies.
The petition urges the Ghanaian government to engage with Nigerian authorities, alert ECOWAS of potential violations of regional investment protections, and demand an immediate reversal of the CAC’s actions to safeguard millions of dollars in Ghanaian-led investments.
Sir Jonah attributes the crisis to a conflict with a local Nigerian agent, Paul Odili of Paulo Homes Ltd, over land encroachment within the estate. The disagreement escalated into legal battles and conflicting police reports.
According to the petition, despite being served with a court injunction, the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), allegedly cancelled all corporate filings for JonahCapital Nigeria Ltd and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd on December 8, 2025.
Sir Jonah claims the move unlawfully reduced his shareholding, based on a disputed police report that contradicted findings of a 10-member Special Investigation Panel that had earlier examined allegations of document forgery.
Tracing the history of his investments, Sir Jonah highlights that JonahCapital was incorporated in 2006, followed by a 2007 Development Lease with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and subsequent share restructuring that left his entities as the primary holders. He alleges that local agents, including Odili, misrepresented themselves as owners, illegally sold estate land, and used fabricated criminal claims to gain leverage in the dispute.
The petition warns that the CAC’s actions risk the dissipation of assets and leave the companies unable to defend themselves in ongoing court proceedings.
Sir Jonah is now calling on the Foreign Minister to take immediate steps to protect the rights of Ghanaian nationals and their investments in Nigeria, a key market for Ghanaian businesses in the ECOWAS region.
