By Babatunji Wusu
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has firmly denied Ghanaian businessman Sam Jonah’s claim that he allocated 501 hectares of land to him for developing River Park Estate in Abuja, calling the allegation false and libellous.
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Sam Jonah and others, including two other Ghanaians and an Abuja-based lawyer, face 26-count criminal charges for alleged forgery of company documents in an attempt to illegally take over ownership of River Park Estate and related companies.
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Police investigations included forensic analysis of falsified documents, showing fraud in company share capital manipulation and illegal presentation of citizenship to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) requested Obasanjo’s confirmation on the land claim as part of the ongoing investigation, and Obasanjo’s response categorically refuted any land allocation, consistent with his earlier statements.
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The dispute is part of a larger complex legal battle over the ownership of River Park Estate, involving pending court cases and police inquiries focused on forgery allegations rather than land ownership itself.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo responded to an inquiry from the Inspector-General of Police regarding a claim by Sam Jonah that Obasanjo allocated him 501 hectares of land for the development of River Park Estate in Abuja. In his letter dated July 10, 2025, Obasanjo categorically denied the allegation, stating that the claim is “absolutely untrue, fictitious, misleading and libellous.” He further reiterated that if Sam Jonah believed any land allocation was made, he was mistaken.
Sam Jonah, a Knight of the British Empire, alongside Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo, an Abuja-based legal practitioner Abu Arome, and Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd, are facing charges related to forging company documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission. These alleged forged documents were used to falsely increase company share capital and assume control of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd, Jonah Capital Nigeria Ltd, and River Park Estate.
The police’s forensic reports confirmed that signatures and documents were forged, and the accused unlawfully misrepresented themselves as Nigerian citizens to carry out these alleged fraudulent activities. The charges, filed on June 26, 2025, include counts of forgery, impersonation, and conspiracy.
While the police awaited Obasanjo’s input as part of the broader investigation, media reports of fresh inquiry orders by the Inspector-General were misrepresented by some parties. Reliable sources clarified that the IGP did not order a new investigation but rather continued the existing forensic examination of the forgery allegations.
Overall, the controversy underscores a protracted legal dispute involving allegations of fraudulent land ownership claims and corporate document manipulations centered on one of Abuja’s prominent estates, with courts and law enforcement actively engaged in resolving the matter.
