Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has ordered fresh investigations into allegations of criminal intimidation, assault and destruction of property at Sam Jonah's River Park Estate, following a comprehensive legal review of disputes surrounding the estate and associated companies.

In a directive issued after assessing investigation reports from the Nigeria Police Force, the Attorney General requested that police probe claims that violent acts at the River Park Estate were carried out by individuals allegedly acting on the instructions of one Paul Odili.

The request comes over concerns that earlier investigations failed to adequately address complaints made by residents, staff and customers of the estate.

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The development follows the Attorney General’s decision to terminate criminal proceedings against four individuals — Mr Samuel Esson Jonah, Mr Kojo Ansah Mensah, Mr Victor Quainoo and Mr Abu Arome — who had been accused of forgery and other related offences in connection with Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited.

According to the Attorney General’s findings, “no prima facie case” was established against the four, after a detailed review of case files and police investigations.

The review concluded that the dispute largely involved commercial and corporate governance issues, rather than criminal conduct.

The legal opinion also faulted aspects of the investigation conducted by the IGP Monitoring Unit, describing its conclusions as misleading and inconsistent with the burden of proof required to establish criminal liability.

The Attorney General noted that attempts to criminalise what were essentially contractual and ownership disagreements contravened provisions of Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

As part of the directive, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) was instructed to immediately rescind any administrative actions taken against the affected companies based on the disputed police report, and to refrain from actions that could undermine ongoing judicial processes.

The Attorney General further criticised public statements made by senior police officials during a press briefing in June 2025, where individuals were identified as owners and managers of the River Park Estate without a court determination, describing such actions as exceeding the lawful mandate of the police.

In directing the fresh investigations, the Attorney General also asked the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the safety of residents and guarantee peaceful enjoyment of property at the River Park Estate, while submitting a detailed report on the new probe for further consideration.

The case has drawn significant attention in Nigeria and beyond due to its implications for investor confidence, corporate governance, and the proper limits of criminal enforcement in commercial disputes, as authorities seek to reset the process and restore public trust in the rule of law.