Diaspora owners of demolished $250m estate along Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway petition Tinubu over Umahi’s “reckless and damaging conduct”
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
*************************************
Umahi has repeatedly invoked Tinubu’s name in a matter that is before a court, which “is improper, dangerous, and exposes the esteemed office of the President to unnecessary domestic and international controversies.
“This matter is sub judice. By tying your name to his actions, he has placed the presidency in the line of legal and diplomatic fire.” Section 1(3) of the Constitution is supreme over all officeholders – Nigerian-American diaspora investor and WINHOMES Chief Executive, Stella Okengwu.
Okengwu accused Umahi of making false claims that judgment has been delivered in the ongoing court case (Suit No: FHC/L/CS/10063/25) in favour of the Federal Government, a case that remains pending before Judge Akintayo Aluko at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
She cited the 1986 Supreme Court judgment in Governor of Lagos v. Ojukwu which ruled that no party, including the government, has the right to take the law into its own hands during litigation.
“The Minister’s physical visit to the disputed site and his public declaration that he has taken the land himself is contemptuous and unconstitutional.”
Okengwu also raised concerns over reports that certain private developers have allegedly approached Umahi to purchase parts of the estate, warning that any such actions would amount to fraudulent interference with private property and destroy Nigeria’s foreign investment credibility.
“The world is watching. Every reckless statement from the Minister de-markets Nigeria and raises the risk perception among foreign investors.”
She urged Tinubu to intervene by calling Umahi to order, reaffirming judicial independence, and setting up an independent valuation panel to assess diaspora losses.
“This is your moment to show that Renewed Hope is not a slogan but a covenant of justice. Either we protect the Constitution and Nigeria’s investment future or allow ministerial impunity to erode trust built over decades.”
*************************************
Diaspora owners of demolished WINHOMES Estate at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the scary “reckless and damaging conduct” of Works Minister David Umahi.
A Nigerian-American diaspora investor and WINHOMES Chief Executive, Stella Okengwu, who lives in the United States, alleged in the letter that Umahi’s conduct and utterances about the demolition can scare away other genuine foreign investors.
She said Umahi has repeatedly invoked Tinubu’s name in a matter that is before a court, which “is improper, dangerous, and exposes the esteemed office of the President to unnecessary domestic and international controversies.
“This matter is sub judice. By tying your name to his actions, he has placed the presidency in the line of legal and diplomatic fire,” Okengwu added, stressing that Section 1(3) of the Constitution is supreme over all officeholders.
She alerted Tinubu that
- The project, conceived in 2021, was designed as a tourism-led development model aimed to inspire other diaspora Nigerians to reinvest in their homeland.
- Hundreds of investors, most of who live abroad, had subscribed.
- The project sits on 20 hectares of legally acquired land in Lagos, with three valid titles and 2,500 fully serviced plots, each valued at ₦150 million.
- The total value of the project stood at ₦375 billion ($250 million), representing one of the largest diaspora-backed real estate investments in Nigeria.
- The diversion of the coastal highway project has already affected 400 plots valued at ₦60 billion, and cumulative damages and infrastructural losses are estimated at ₦85 billion.
“This is diaspora sweat, real capital, and tangible infrastructure – now endangered by ministerial overreach.”
She refuted reports that the project was financed through illegal channels, stressing that WINHOMES Global Services Ltd is certified by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and compliant with all Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and anti–money laundering regulations.
“All funds were transferred through legitimate financial channels such as Sendwave, MoneyGram, Western Union, and TapTap. Any attempt to brand such lawful funds as illegal is defamatory and will be met with appropriate legal action.”
Okengwu accused Umahi of making false claims that judgment has been delivered in the ongoing court case (Suit No: FHC/L/CS/10063/25) in favour of the Federal Government, a case that remains pending before Judge Akintayo Aluko at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
She cited the 1986 Supreme Court judgment in Governor of Lagos v. Ojukwu which ruled that no party, including the government, has the right to take the law into its own hands during litigation.
“The Minister’s physical visit to the disputed site and his public declaration that he has taken the land himself is contemptuous and unconstitutional.”
Okengwu also raised concerns over reports that certain private developers have allegedly approached Umahi to purchase parts of the estate, warning that any such actions would amount to fraudulent interference with private property and destroy Nigeria’s foreign investment credibility.
“The world is watching. Every reckless statement from the Minister de-markets Nigeria and raises the risk perception among foreign investors.”
She urged Tinubu to intervene by calling Umahi to order, reaffirming judicial independence, and setting up an independent valuation panel to assess diaspora losses.
“This is your moment to show that Renewed Hope is not a slogan but a covenant of justice. Either we protect the Constitution and Nigeria’s investment future or allow ministerial impunity to erode trust built over decades.”
Okengwu sought a structured dialogue between the Tinubu administration and WINHOMES through its legal representatives, because “the credibility of Nigeria’s investment climate depends on how this matter is resolved.”
Read also:
