Demolition Dispute: WINHOME Residents Escalate Complaint Against Minister Umahi To Tinubu

The owners of the $250 million Diaspora-funded development project in Lagos, WINHOMES Estate, have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they call the “reckless and damaging conduct” of Engineer David Umahi, the Minister of Works. They accuse him of misrepresenting himself, abusing his position, and taking actions that could undermine investor confidence in Nigeria.

U.S. citizen and award-winning Nigerian Diaspora investor Engr. Stella Okengwu, the company’s chief executive, made a forceful statement to the President, accusing the Minister of violating constitutional principles, undermining judicial independence, and putting the presidency at risk for damage to its reputation through his public remarks and physical actions regarding the demolition of the estate.

Her actions “are improper, dangerous, and expose the esteemed office of the President to unnecessary domestic and international controversies,” she claimed, citing the Minister’s frequent use of the President’s name in an issue that was already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The topic at hand is sub judice. She stated that Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution still has the upper hand over all officeholders and that by linking your name to his conduct, he has put the presidency in the crosshairs of legal and diplomatic criticism.

The head of WINHOMES clarified that the project was envisioned in 2021 as a tourism-led development model with the goal of encouraging Nigerians living abroad to make investments in their country. The project, which has the support of hundreds of foreign investors and partners, is situated on 20 hectares of legally acquired property in Lagos. It has three valid titles and 2,500 completely serviced plots, each worth ₦150 million.

The project is worth ₦375 billion (about $250 million), she revealed, making it one of the biggest Diaspora-backed real estate ventures in the nation. But she claims that 400 plots worth ₦60 billion have already been impacted by the coastal highway project’s detour, and that the total estimated damages and infrastructure losses are ₦85 billion worth.

She bemoaned the fact that “this is Diaspora sweat, real capital, and tangible infrastructure — now endangered by ministerial overreach.”

Noting that WINHOMES Global Services Ltd. is properly certified by the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and complies with all Central Bank of Nigeria and anti-money laundering requirements, she also denied rumors that the project was funded through illicit means.

“All money was sent using secure financial methods including TapTap, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Sendwave. She cautioned that any attempt to paint such legitimate funds as unlawful is libelous and would result in the proper legal action.

The suit, Suit No. FHC/L/CS/10063/25, is still continuing before Justice Akintayo Aluko at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, she said, accusing Umahi of making deceptive statements that a decision had been rendered in favor of the Federal Government.

She cited the Supreme Court’s 1986 decision in Governor of Lagos v. Ojukwu, which said that no party, including the government, has the authority to impose its own laws while a case is being heard. She claimed that the Minister’s public admission that he had taken the land himself and his actual visit to the contested location were disrespectful and unconstitutional.

The developer expressed further apprehension regarding rumors that certain private developers had contacted the Minister to buy portions of the estate, cautioning that such a move would constitute fraudulent interference with private property and damage Nigeria’s reputation for attracting foreign investment.

“The entire world is observing. She warned that the Minister’s careless remarks de-market Nigeria and increase international investors’ perception of risk.

She addressed President Tinubu directly, pleading for him to step in and call the Minister to order, uphold judicial independence, and establish an impartial assessment panel to determine Diaspora losses.

She further demanded that the Ministry of Works be investigated for suspected cash-to-USD trades, that false information be corrected publicly, and that urgent compensation be given.

“Now is your chance to demonstrate that Renewed Hope is a covenant of justice rather than just a catchphrase,” she said to the president. “We must either safeguard Nigeria’s investment prospects and the Constitution, or we must permit ministerial impunity to undermine decades of established trust.”

The petition’s conclusion urged WINHOMES’ legal representatives to engage in a structured dialogue with the Tinubu administration, stating that “the credibility of Nigeria’s investment climate depends on how this matter is resolved.”