‘Estate Fraud’: Lawyer, 3 Ghanaians For Arraignment July 16

Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has scheduled July 16 for the arraignment of an Abuja-based lawyer, Abu Arome, and three Ghanaian nationals over their alleged involvement in a multi-billion naira fraud linked to River Park Estate.

The accused, who are facing a 26-count charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), include Sam Jonah, a Knight of the British Empire (KBE); Kojo Ansah; Victor Quainoo; and a company, Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd.

The charges, signed by prosecuting counsel Isa Garba from the Force Headquarters and court registrar Maureen Okonkwo, centre on allegations of forgery, conspiracy, impersonation, and illegal takeover of corporate entities.

According to the police, the defendants forged board resolutions, share allotment documents, and corporate records to fraudulently assume control of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd and Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd.

Investigations allegedly uncovered that the accused persons inflated the share capital of the companies and illegally allocated 99 million shares to themselves using falsified documents and signatures.

The police also accused them of falsely representing themselves as Nigerian citizens in filings submitted to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), thereby breaching statutory requirements and facilitating the alleged fraud.

Exhibits listed by the prosecution include petitions to the police authorities, statements by the defendants, police investigation reports, and a forensic analysis of documents, including a letter of share relinquishment purportedly signed by John Townley Johnson on behalf of Houses for Africa Holding Inc., which forensic experts concluded was forged.

Additional documents presented as evidence include board resolutions allegedly used to remove legitimate Nigerian directors, increase share capital, and transfer ownership of title documents to Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd.

The police maintain that the accused acted in concert to commit offences contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code by using as genuine forged corporate documents to unlawfully control the two Nigerian companies.

One of the charges specifically alleges that the five defendants, between January 2010 and January 2025, conspired in Abuja to forge board resolutions and letterheads of Jonah Capital Nigeria Ltd.

According to the police, these actions amount to a felony under the Penal Code.