The National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria (NAGHACON) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and President John Mahama of Ghana to intervene in the ongoing dispute involving Ghanaian investment firm JonahCapital at River Park Estate in Abuja.

The association warned yesterday that continued actions against the company could undermine investor confidence and strain the longstanding diplomatic and economic relationship between Nigeria and Ghana if not promptly addressed.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NAGHACON’s leadership expressed concern over what it described as the targeting of JonahCapital through the destruction of its property while legal proceedings over the ownership dispute remain before the courts.

The association’s executive committee, representing Ghanaian communities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said it had dispatched a delegation to inspect the estate and assess the situation firsthand.

National President of NAGHACON, Lukman Tetteh, and General Secretary, Edwards Domfe, said the delegation visited the Gallery Clubhouse, the gatehouse and other JonahCapital-owned facilities to evaluate the reported damage.

According to NAGHACON, its inspection revealed what it described as a disturbing pattern in which JonahCapital appeared to be the only company facing disruption despite several other businesses operating normally within the estate.

“We observed that other companies continue to operate without interference, while JonahCapital’s properties have been barricaded and subjected to various forms of disruption,” the association stated.

The group recalled that JonahCapital had faced several legal and administrative challenges over the past year, including allegations of forgery arising from a police investigation.

It noted, however, that the Attorney-General of the Federation subsequently cleared the company’s directors of any wrongdoing.

NAGHACON also referenced an earlier intervention by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which, according to it, initially resolved the ownership dispute by recognising JonahCapital as the party to the Development Lease Agreement.

The association said the dispute resurfaced after the FCT Minister ruled that the Development Lease Agreement had expired, a decision JonahCapital has challenged in court.

“We are aware that JonahCapital has contested this position and that the matter is now before a competent court. It is deeply troubling that actions affecting the company’s operations and safety continue while judicial proceedings are ongoing,” it said.

Expressing concern over what it described as attempts to undermine the judicial process, the association cautioned that the dispute could have broader implications for regional relations if not handled carefully.

It drew parallels with past incidents of xenophobic violence in Africa, warning against allowing a commercial dispute to fuel nationalist sentiments.

“Today, we are all witnesses to the xenophobic violence in South Africa, which resulted in reprisals and the tragic loss of lives. Such crises often begin with isolated incidents before escalating. We do not want such a situation to arise between two sister countries,” the association said.

It added that its primary concern was the safety of Ghanaians connected with JonahCapital and the preservation of the rule of law.

“We are concerned that a matter already before the courts is not being allowed to follow due process while actions continue against JonahCapital’s staff and assets.

“We appeal to the Presidents of Ghana and Nigeria to call those responsible for these actions to order, allow the courts to determine the dispute, and guarantee the safety and security of the Ghanaians involved,” it said.

NAGHACON expressed optimism that timely intervention would preserve the longstanding friendship and cordial bilateral relations between Nigeria and Ghana.

The appeal follows a recent incident in which armed police officers, reportedly attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Nigeria Police Force, allegedly escorted a group of men to The Gallery Clubhouse at River Park Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, a recreational facility owned by JonahCapital.

During the operation, part of the facility’s entrance was reportedly excavated, an action the company described as an unlawful invasion of its property.

Witnesses alleged that the officers prevented staff from interfering with the operation and declined to disclose the authority under which they were acting. A video of the incident captured a tense exchange between a member of staff and one of the officers after the employee began recording the operation.

JonahCapital has since condemned the incident, describing it as an unlawful invasion of its property, and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation.

The incident is the latest in the protracted ownership dispute surrounding River Park Estate, one of Abuja’s largest residential developments.

Competing claims over the ownership and control of JonahCapital Nigeria Limited and related entities have generated multiple court cases, police investigations and public exchanges over the past two years.