Police-backed operation at Ghanaian-owned Abuja facility sparks xenophobia concerns, JonahCapital alleges political interference
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Ghanaian investors and Nigerian authorities, JonahCapital Nigeria Limited has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating a sustained xenophobic campaign against its investments in Abuja.
The allegations stem from an incident on June 29, 2026, when armed policemen from the Nigeria Police Force’s Counter Terrorism Unit were filmed escorting a group of men into The Gallery Clubhouse, a recreational facility owned by JonahCapital within the River Park Estate. Witnesses described the operation as an unlawful invasion of private property, with part of the facility’s entrance reportedly excavated during the proceeding.
JonahCapital’s Chief Executive Officer, Kojo Ansah Mensah, stated in a July 1 press release that the police action was part of a broader pattern of actions aimed at displacing the Ghanaian-owned company from lands it developed over years of investment. Mensah alleged that Wike had previously acknowledged JonahCapital’s ownership of the River Park Estate through a Development Lease Agreement before abruptly terminating the arrangement and asserting control over the land and infrastructure.
“This reversal created the conditions under which third parties have sought to dispossess JonahCapital of lands, infrastructure and facilities built over years of investment in Nigeria,” Mensah said.
The company claims that despite Wike’s public statements denying any business relationship with Paulo Homes—a firm involved in a joint venture with JonahCapital—title documents have been issued over lands claimed by JonahCapital, enabling widespread encroachment on its project areas.
The June 29 incident is the latest flashpoint in a dispute that has simmered for over a decade. The conflict traces back to 2013 when JonahCapital entered into a joint venture with Paulo Homes to secure building permits, agreeing to allocate 30% of land to the Nigerian firm. JonahCapital alleges that Paulo Homes later breached the agreement by seizing additional land and leveling baseless forgery claims against the Ghanaian partners.
A Special Investigation Panel convened to examine the forgery allegations found them to be without merit, yet both the Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria and Nigeria’s Attorney-General have been unable to secure the release of the panel’s findings from the Inspector General of Police.
In mid-2025, JonahCapital escalated the matter by filing a Federal High Court suit against Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and other top security officials, seeking 200 million naira in damages for alleged unlawful intimidation and an attempt to suppress a completed police investigation report.
Despite its criticism of the June 29 operation, JonahCapital separately commended Inspector-General Olatunji Disu and the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Sanusi, for their “timely and decisive intervention” during other recent events at the estate, which the company said averted potential violence and bloodshed.
The company has issued an urgent appeal to Nigeria’s Presidency, security agencies, diplomatic missions, ECOWAS institutions, investor protection bodies, and the international community to closely monitor the situation and safeguard the rights of foreign investors in the country.
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has issued an official statement regarding the June 29 operation.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
