The lingering dispute surrounding River Park Estate in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory appears to be edging toward resolution, as a newly obtained document reveals that one of the key developers had resigned from the project as far back as 2017.
Government Intervention
The controversy, which has drawn the attention of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as an FCT Ministerial Review Committee, has seen multiple government interventions and site inspections.
Earlier reports confirmed that an FCT Ministerial Task Force halted ongoing construction at the estate in Lugbe and detained workers who allegedly ignored a subsisting court order. The Abuja High Court had previously directed the warring parties to maintain the status quo, pending the conclusion of the legal battle over ownership and development rights.
The 2017 Resignation Letter
The newly surfaced letter, dated July 1, 2017, was addressed to Mr. Kojo Ansah, Chief Executive Officer of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, both linked to River Park Estate. It was authored by Mr. Adrian Ogun, a Nigerian developer, confirming his resignation from the boards of both companies.
Interestingly, just last Sunday, Dr. Adrian Ogunmuyiwa publicly claimed that he was the founder of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, the firm behind River Park Estate, and not foreign investors as widely believed. However, the 2017 correspondence suggests he had stepped away from the company years ago.
Debt Settlement Dispute
In the letter, Ogun expressed regret over revoking an earlier agreement reached during a River Park board meeting held on October 20, 2016. That meeting, chaired by Mr. Paul Odili of Paulo Homes, had discussed debt settlements involving Common Consultants Ltd (CCL), Jonah Capital, and payments relating to Kaba land in Abuja.
According to the document, claims by CCL against Jonah Capital amounted to over ₦61 million as of September 2016. Ogun said he agreed to reduced payments on the condition that Jonah Capital cleared all outstanding debts by December 31, 2016, and paid additional fees totaling ₦62 million to the FCT authorities.
Unmet Obligations
By July 2017, Ogun noted that Jonah Capital had failed to meet those obligations, leaving the legal rights to 23 hectares of Kaba land in jeopardy. He urged immediate settlement of the FCT Development Control bill and repayment of ₦102.8 million owed to CCL, either in cash or land.
Concluding the letter, Ogun formally resigned from the boards of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited (JCNL) and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited (HFAN). He requested that the directors, including Sir Sam Jonah, sign the necessary forms to formalize his exit. The letter was also copied to Mr. Paul Odili of Paulo Homes.
Fresh Twist in the Estate Dispute
The revelation adds a new dimension to the protracted River Park Estate dispute, raising further questions about the corporate history and ownership structure of one of Abuja’s most controversial real estate projects.
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