Two Abuja-based companies, Jonah Capital Nigeria Ltd and Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd, have petitioned the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, over alleged irregularities by the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN.

The petition, submitted on December 8, 2025, by Ghanaian investor Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, KBE, claims that the CAC Registrar-General unlawfully reversed nearly two decades of corporate records, affecting shareholding structures, director appointments, and ongoing litigation concerning the companies.

Jonah accused the Registrar-General of “unlawful expropriation of shares, extrajudicial removal of directors, and retrospective invalidation of corporate filings,” despite the fact that only three filings were in dispute and were already before the Federal High Court.

“The Registrar-General reverted the status of the companies back to their incorporation dates—2006 for Jonah Capital and 2007 for Houses for Africa—despite pending court proceedings. This destabilizes ownership, management, and ongoing litigation,” the petition stated.

Jonah further argued that CAC’s actions exceeded its authority and encroached on judicial powers, which constitutionally reside with the courts. He warned that the administrative decisions could cause significant economic losses, disrupt banking relationships, and undermine the companies’ legal standing in ongoing cases.

The petition also highlighted regulatory inconsistencies, noting that while the CAC had previously required companies with foreign participation to raise share capital to ₦100 million—a requirement the firms complied with—retroactively canceling filings now exposes them to penalties and operational disruptions.

Jonah urged Minister Oduwole to intervene, requesting that the Registrar-General reverse the administrative actions immediately.

The situation escalated further when reports indicated that the CAC allegedly defied a directive from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, which instructed the Commission to maintain corporate records while a review of related police investigation files was ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory High Court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the disputed River Park Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, halting development and transactions. The House of Representatives has also formally received a petition to investigate the alleged tampering with corporate records by the CAC.

The CAC, in response, stated that it has not illegally tampered with any corporate records. However, the controversy underscores a deepening corporate and regulatory crisis surrounding the multi-billion-naira River Park Estate ownership dispute.