An Abuja High Court has struck out criminal charges filed against Ghanaian investors and their Nigerian lawyer in the protracted River Park Estate dispute, effectively clearing them of all criminal allegations linked to the matter.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Abuja, discontinued the case after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) applied to withdraw the prosecution. The AGF exercised constitutional powers to terminate the proceedings before judgment, a move the court upheld by striking out the charges.
The defendants, associated with JonahCapital Ltd, had been accused of offences including forgery and unlawful allocation of shares in connection with the ownership and management of River Park Estate, a major real estate development located along the Abuja Airport Road corridor.
In court, the AGF informed the judge that the case lacked sufficient legal basis for criminal prosecution, noting that the dispute was fundamentally commercial in nature. The office maintained that the issues in contention arose from corporate and contractual disagreements, which are more appropriately addressed through civil litigation rather than criminal proceedings.
The ruling is seen as a significant development in the long-running dispute, which has attracted public, legal, and diplomatic attention. The matter has previously raised concerns about investor confidence and the broader implications for cross-border investments between Ghana and Nigeria.
Legal analysts say the court’s decision reinforces the principle that business disputes should not be unnecessarily criminalised, particularly where civil remedies are available.
With the charges struck out, the Ghanaian investors and their lawyer are no longer subject to criminal liability in relation to the River Park Estate dispute. However, related civil and administrative issues surrounding the estate are expected to continue through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.