Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has directed the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to restore the corporate records of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, following a legal review that found no basis for actions earlier taken against the companies.
The directive was conveyed in a letter dated December 30, 2025, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF. The letter instructed the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Magaji, to reinstate the firms’ records to their original status, noting that the previous administrative measures were not in line with due process.
According to the Attorney-General, the decision came after a thorough assessment of police investigation files connected to allegations of fraud and forgery involving Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Kojo Ansah Mensah, Victor Quainoo, and Abu Arome, all of whom are linked to the two companies.
The intervention followed a petition dated December 8, 2025, submitted by Mensah, which alleged unlawful seizure of shares, improper removal of directors, and the retroactive cancellation of valid corporate filings. In response, the AGF ordered the CAC to immediately reverse all actions taken on the strength of the investigation report issued by the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit (IGPMU).
The Commission was also advised to refrain from any conduct that could weaken or encroach upon the authority of the courts.
In a separate communication to the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General faulted the earlier police investigation, describing it as misleading and inadequate, and stating that it failed to meet the legal threshold required to establish criminal liability.
Fagbemi emphasized that the dispute was essentially commercial, involving questions of ownership, shareholding, and contractual obligations, and accused the police of acting beyond their lawful remit by attempting to criminalize what was fundamentally a business disagreement.
The letter further criticized comments made during a police press briefing on June 27, 2025, describing the statements and actions of the IGPMU as inappropriate and outside the bounds of police authority. It reiterated that the police lack jurisdiction to determine land ownership or adjudicate contractual disputes.
The Attorney-General also expressed concern that allegations of assault, intimidation, and destruction of property allegedly carried out against staff, agents, customers, and residents of River Park Estate had not been properly investigated.
As a result, the AGF ordered the termination of all cases against Jonah, Mensah, Quainoo, and Arome. He further directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the outstanding allegations of criminal intimidation, assault, and property destruction, and to submit a detailed report for his consideration.
The police were also reminded of their statutory responsibility to protect lives and property and were instructed to ensure peace and security for all residents of River Park Estate.
