Key Takeaways
- Sir Sam Jonah, a Ghanaian mining magnate, has initiated international arbitration proceedings against the Nigerian government over a long-running dispute.
- The case centers on the termination of a development lease covering land near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
- The dispute has been ongoing since 2007, with JonahCapital claiming the lease was meant to run until June 2030.
The dispute between Sir Sam Jonah's investment group, JonahCapital, and the Nigerian government has been ongoing since 2007, with the investment group claiming that the lease for a 501-hectare plot of land in Abuja was terminated unlawfully by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in November 2025.
The plot of land, located in Cadastral Zone E30, Lugbe West, was allocated to JonahCapital under Nigeria's Mass Housing Scheme in 2007 and was developed into River Park Estate, a residential and mixed-use project with homes, shops, healthcare facilities, offices, and places of worship.
Background & Context
The dispute has been exacerbated by Nigeria's failure to provide basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water, forcing JonahCapital to fund and build these amenities itself.
Additionally, the company has raised concerns over building approval fees and claims that parts of the property have been fenced off since arbitration began, alongside ownership claims from third parties that have dragged the matter through years of legal wrangling.
Key Findings
The case before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris centers on the termination of the development lease, with JonahCapital claiming that the FCDA acted unlawfully in reclaiming the property after the lease expired.
Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed the matter is now before arbitrators and said the government would let the process run its course, insisting that the FCDA acted lawfully in reclaiming the property.
Broader Implications
The dispute has significant implications for Ghanaian businesses operating in Nigeria, with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raising the treatment of Ghanaian businesses in Nigeria at an ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja.
The case also highlights the importance of protecting Ghanaian investments abroad, with Ablakwa pledging support for JonahCapital and visiting River Park Estate to show solidarity.
Looking Ahead
No hearing date has been set for the ICC arbitration, and the parallel criminal case in Nigeria is still pending, with Sir Sam Jonah and others facing a 26-count charge sheet that includes forgery and unlawful allocation of company shares.
By taking the case to the ICC rather than Nigerian courts alone, JonahCapital is leaning on an independent, international tribunal, a route commonly used in cross-border investment disputes.
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