By PeakNews Reporter
ABUJA – The National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria (NAGHACON) has expressed concern over the ongoing dispute involving Ghanaian investment firm JonahCapital at River Park Estate, Abuja, warning that the situation could have implications for diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Ghana if not peacefully resolved.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the association said it had dispatched a delegation to assess reports of structural damage to properties belonging to the company and to evaluate the security situation surrounding the estate.
The delegation, comprising members of NAGHACON’s executive committee representing Ghanaian communities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, said it visited the estate to inspect facilities allegedly affected during recent operations.
Speaking on behalf of the association, National President Lukman Tetteh and General Secretary Edwards Domfe said the visit enabled the delegation to observe the situation firsthand.
“Our first objective was to ascertain the incidents that have occurred at JonahCapital’s River Park Estate. We visited the Gallery Clubhouse, the gatehouse and other facilities belonging to the company to assess the reported damage,” the association stated.
According to NAGHACON, its members observed that while several businesses within River Park Estate continued normal operations, JonahCapital appeared to have been the focus of recent enforcement activities.
The association also expressed concern over structures erected around some of the company’s properties, describing the development as troubling while legal proceedings relating to the estate remain before the courts.
NAGHACON recalled that JonahCapital had previously been investigated over allegations of forgery but noted that the Attorney-General of the Federation later cleared the company’s directors of wrongdoing.
The association further referenced an earlier intervention by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, which had recognised JonahCapital as the party to the estate’s Development Lease Agreement following the recommendations of a ministerial committee.
However, it noted that the dispute resurfaced after the FCT Administration subsequently maintained that the Development Lease Agreement had expired, a position that JonahCapital has challenged in court.
The association argued that, given the matter is currently before the judiciary, all parties should allow the legal process to run its course without actions capable of escalating tensions.
Expressing concern over the safety of Ghanaian nationals connected with the company, NAGHACON warned that prolonged disputes involving foreign-owned investments could negatively affect bilateral relations if not carefully managed.
The group urged stakeholders to avoid actions capable of inflaming public sentiment, citing the importance of preserving the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.
Drawing parallels with incidents of xenophobic violence witnessed in parts of Africa, the association called for restraint and adherence to the rule of law.
It appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and President John Mahama of Ghana to intervene diplomatically to ensure the safety of affected persons and encourage a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“We appeal to the Presidents of Nigeria and Ghana to ensure that due process is followed, that those involved are protected and that the courts are allowed to determine the matter without interference,” the association said.
The appeal follows recent reports of an operation involving armed police officers at River Park Estate in Lugbe, Abuja.
According to reports, officers believed to be attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Nigeria Police Force accompanied a group of individuals to the Gallery Clubhouse, a recreational facility owned by JonahCapital, where part of the entrance was reportedly excavated.
Witnesses alleged that employees were prevented from interfering with the operation and that requests for clarification on the authority for the action were not answered.
Videos circulated on social media also showed a tense exchange between one of the company’s employees and a police officer after the staff member began recording the incident.
JonahCapital has condemned the operation, describing it as an unlawful invasion of its property, and has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The latest development is linked to a long-running dispute over the ownership and management of River Park Estate, one of Abuja’s largest residential developments, which has generated multiple court cases, police investigations and competing claims over the past two years.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Capital Territory Administration had not issued fresh statements in response to NAGHACON’s latest concerns.
