A long-running dispute over one of Abuja’s biggest real estate developments has moved beyond Nigeria’s borders, with Ghanaian businessman Sir Sam Jonah’s company taking the Nigerian government to international arbitration in Paris.
At the centre of the dispute is River Park Estate, a 501-hectare mixed-use development in Lugbe, Abuja, designed to deliver more than 11,000 housing units for about 42,000 residents, alongside shopping centres, office complexes, healthcare facilities, and other supporting infrastructure.
JonahCapital Nigeria Limited has invoked the arbitration clause in its Development Lease Agreement and filed proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, challenging the Federal Capital Development Authority’s decision to terminate the lease on November 5, 2025. The company argues that the agreement remains valid until June 2030 and is asking the tribunal to declare the termination unlawful.
The Government’s Position
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, confirmed that the developers have commenced arbitration proceedings. “The other party has gone to arbitration, and we said okay, let them conclude the arbitration process,” Wike said.
According to Wike, the FCDA signed a Development Lease Agreement with JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, but the agreement had expired, prompting the authority to repossess the land. He also maintained that the FCDA had no contractual relationship with Paulo Homes Limited, which he said was later introduced into the project.
The Developer’s Allegations
JonahCapital strongly disputes the government’s position. The company turned to international arbitration after repeated attempts to resolve the matter through official channels and Nigerian courts failed.
The developer has accused the FCDA of fencing off parts of the disputed estate while arbitration was already underway, failing to provide key infrastructure—including roads, electricity, and water supply—as required under the agreement, allowing individuals and organisations that were not parties to the original lease agreement to lay claim to parts of the estate, triggering years of litigation.
A Dispute Years in the Making
The River Park Estate project has been embroiled in controversy for years. In July 2025, former President Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed claims by Sir Sam Jonah that his administration allocated the 501 hectares for the development, describing the allegation as “absolutely untrue, fictitious, misleading and libellous.”
The outcome of the arbitration could determine the future ownership and development of one of Abuja’s largest private housing projects.
The Bottom Line
Ghanaian billionaire Sir Sam Jonah’s company has taken the Nigerian government to international arbitration in Paris over the River Park Estate dispute in Abuja. The 501-hectare development, planned for over 11,000 housing units, has been stalled by disagreements over the validity of the lease agreement. The Federal Capital Development Authority claims the lease has expired, while JonahCapital insists it remains valid until 2030. The International Chamber of Commerce will now decide the matter.
