Former President Obasanjo Debunks Claim of Land Allocation to Sam Jonah

Strategic Insights -

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied allegations that he allocated 501 hectares of land to Ghanaian businessman Sam Jonah to set up the River Park Estate in Abuja. Obasanjo's response was in a letter to the inspector-general of police (IGP) dated July 10, 2025, in which he described the claim as "absolutely untrue, fictitious, misleading and libellous." The IGP had requested Obasanjo's clarification on the matter following a petition from Sam Jonah, who claimed that the former president had given him the large expanse of land to develop the estate. However, an investigation by the police found that the documents used to support Jonah's claim were forged and had been filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied allocating 501 hectares of land to Ghanaian businessman Sam Jonah to set up the River Park Estate in Abuja.
  • The police investigated the allegations after receiving a petition from Sam Jonah, but found that the documents used to support the claim were forged.
  • Obasanjo described the claim as "absolutely untrue, fictitious, misleading and libellous" in a letter to the inspector-general of police dated July 10, 2025.
  • The accused persons, including Sam Jonah, Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo, Abu Arome, and Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd, are to be arraigned before Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi on a 26-count charge of forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
  • The charge was filed on June 26, 2025, and lists several exhibits, including letters of petition, final police investigation reports, and statements of the defendants.
  • The police also listed as exhibits the board resolution of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd dated September 9, 2013, appointing and removing directors, as well as various status reports of Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd and Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd.
  • The accused persons had allegedly increased the company's share capital and allocated 99 million shares to themselves using falsified documents and forged signatures.

Statistics:

  • 501 hectares: the alleged land allocation made by Obasanjo to Sam Jonah.
  • 26: the number of counts in the charge filed against the accused persons.
  • 99 million: the number of shares allegedly allocated to the accused persons by the company.
  • June 25, 2025: the date on which the charge was signed.
  • June 26, 2025: the date on which the charge was filed.
  • July 10, 2025: the date on which Obasanjo wrote to the inspector-general of police to clarify the allegations.
  • July 4, 2025: the date on which the IGP requested Obasanjo's clarification on the matter.

Sources:

  • Reply letter from Obasanjo to the inspector-general of police dated July 10, 2025.
  • Letter from the IGP to Obasanjo dated July 4, 2025.
  • Police investigation report dated November 29, 2024.
  • Final police investigation report dated June 27, 2025.
  • Charge sheet dated June 25, 2025, and filed on June 26, 2025.
  • Petition from Sam Jonah to the police.