Sir Sam Jonah drags Nigeria to ICC arbitration over Abuja land dispute

Ghanaian mining tycoon Sir Sam Jonah has initiated arbitration proceedings against Nigeria over a land dispute in the capital city, Abuja. The case is being heard by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris and concerns the termination of a development lease for 501 hectares of land near Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The property, owned through JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, was valued at approximately US$500 million based on current Abuja land prices. The lease was to run until June 2030, but Nigeria's Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) terminated it in November 2025, a decision JonahCapital disputes as unlawful. JonahCapital claims the FCDA failed to provide essential infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and water, forcing the company to fund and construct these facilities.

They also raise concerns over building approval fees and claim parts of the property have been fenced off since the arbitration began, amidst ownership disputes from third parties. Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, confirmed the arbitration and asserted the FCDA acted legally, stating that some disputed projects were handled by another firm, Paulo Homes Limited.

JonahCapital faces a criminal case in Nigeria, including 26 counts of forgery and unlawful allocation of company shares, but denies the allegations. The case highlights JonahCapital's reliance on an international tribunal for cross-border investment disputes, following previous interventions from Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister on behalf of Ghanaian businesses in Nigeria.