The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, Kojo Ansana Mensa has exposed what he describesd as a major land grabbing operation within the River Park Estate in Abuja.
Mensa, said a group of individuals, falsely claiming to represent his company, have seized more than 100 hectares of prime land in the estate.
He has vowed to fight the illicit operation in both the court of law and through international channels, including his home countries of Ghana and the United States.
Mensa, a dual-nationality Ghanaian-American, shared the details of his company’s involvement in the real estate sector of Nigeria.
He said since 2011, he has overseen the development of the River Park estate and his principal, Sir Sam Jonah, a former advisor to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, was invited by the Nigerian government to invest in the country’s real estate sector.
He said Jonah, who had successful ventures in Ghana and South Africa, co-founded Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited in 2007 with two other partners.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Mensa revealed that a series of fraudulent actions led to the acquisition of land and control by individuals who had no legitimate claim to the company or its assets.
According to Mensa, these individuals used the company’s name to fraudulently acquire more than 100 hectares of land.
Mensa explained that the company, founded in 2007, entered into joint ventures with other investors, providing funds and resources to develop the land.
He added that the problems arose when these individuals began to misrepresent themselves as the legitimate owners of Jonah Capital, despite having no official stake in the company.
As a result, he alleges that they were able to manipulate government approvals, taking advantage of the situation and appropriating significant portions of land that should have belonged to his company.
“The people claiming to be the owners of this company have no valid ownership or shares,” Mensa declared. “They are fraudsters hiding behind the company’s name. This must stop, and we will defend our rights to this property.”
Mensa described an incident where he was physically attacked by agents working on behalf of the land grabbers.
In one alarming episode, he said he was shot at three times during a confrontation on-site, only narrowly escaping with his life thanks to the intervention of the local Fulani community leader.
The embassies of Mensa’s home countries, Ghana and the United States, have been informed of the situation, and the matter has been taken to court.
He has also petitioned Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the land grab and the individuals involved.
“Land grabbing is not unique to Nigeria, but it becomes dangerous when corruption, fraud, and violence are involved,” Mensa added. He called on the Nigerian government to uphold the rights of legitimate property owners and ensure that justice is served.
Mensa emphasised the strong relationship between Ghana and Nigeria, noting that many Ghanaians, including businesses like UBA and Zenith Banks, operate in Nigeria without facing such challenges. He urged the Nigerian authorities to protect foreign investors and prevent the exploitation of legitimate business ventures.
As the legal battle intensifies, Mensa and his company remain committed to defending their rights and ensuring that justice is done in the ongoing dispute over the River Park Estate.
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