Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Reacting to the public attention drawn to the extensive media commentary surrounding the suit filed by Mrs. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Winhomes Global Services Limited, against the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr.Nweze David Umahi concerning the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji stated in a statement which reads: “Since initiating the action, Mrs. Okengwu has made several public allegations against the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen.Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON,claiming that the highway route was diverted into a supposed Winhomes residential development in Okun Ajah, Lagos, thereby jeopardizing investment said to be worth over $250 million. However, what has been presented publicly as a “residential development” is in substance, only a gatehouse structure without further development on the site.
“Crucially, documents filed by Mrs. Okengwu herself before the Federal High Court tell a different story from the narrative being circulated in the media. In the affidavit supporting the Originating Summons in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1803/2024, as well as in her further affidavit, she expressly deposed that Winhomes had sold the land in question to third parties. Having divested their interest in the property, the foundation of the company’s public assertions becomes fundamentally inconsistent with the position they presented before the court.
“In its ruling on the preliminary objections, the Federal High Court held that Mrs. Okengwu and Winhomes Global Services Limited lacked the locus standi to institute the action, having admitted through their own filings that they no longer held any proprietary interest in the land. The court found that the plaintiffs failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action against the defendants.
“The court further determined that the claims presented were rooted in land use and alleged trespass, which are issues which fall outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This clarification from the court brings needed context to the ongoing public discussions and underscores the importance of relying on verified judicial findings rather than unsubstantiated media assertions.
“It would be recalled that Okengwu Stella of WINHOMES Global Services has been indiscriminately and dishonestly dishing out and sponsoring misleading and purposeful falsehoods in the most unpatriotic manners to the world through different media platforms on the status of their interest on the land at Okun Ajah,Lagos, Nigeria with an ulterior motive of scaring foreign investors from investing in Nigeria. She has told several lies against the hardworking Honourable Minister of Works. She has been so wild in her negative comments against the good intentions of the Renewed Hope administration in revolutionizing road infrastructure nationwide. The court of law has exposed her claims as mendacious and unfounded,and this goes to show she is no more than a troublemaker and false alarmist
“Members of the public are enjoined to discountenance all the trending online vituperations of the CEO of WINHOMES Global Services, Okengwu Ifeoma Stella, against the Honourable Minister of Works and her claims concerning Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project,” it also added..
END
