Winhomes CEO vs Umahi: Housing Minister Clash
Winhomes CEO Stella okengwu is fighting back! she refutes Minister David UmahiS tax evasion claims tied to the demolition of winhomes’ estate for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Okengwu calls for a presidential examination into the demolition, asserting that her company met all legal and financial obligations. The core of the dispute centers on the highway project’s controversial land acquisition and accusations of improper demolition. This is a top story for News Directory 3. Okengwu alleges no prior notification and questions why Winhomes was targeted. She’s urging President Tinubu to intervene.Discover what’s next as the Federal inland Revenue Service and the Ministry of Works remain silent.
Winhomes CEO Responds to Umahi Over Demolition Claims
Stella Okengwu, chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Services Limited, has publicly addressed Minister of Works David Umahi’s recent criticisms of her company and the demolition of its estate in Okun Ajah, Lagos State. The dispute centers around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and allegations of tax evasion.
In a video released over the weekend, Okengwu refuted Umahi’s claims that Winhomes defaulted on tax obligations and possessed undeveloped land within the highway’s designated path. The controversy arose after Umahi questioned Winhomes’ reported ₦250 million investment and accused the company of tax evasion during the Lekki-Epe deep Seaport road inauguration.
Okengwu described the minister’s allegations as baseless, asserting that Winhomes has consistently met all legal and tax requirements. She is calling for a presidential investigation into the estate’s demolition, which she claims occurred without proper notification or legal justification. Winhomes maintains it secured all necessary approvals and conducted a land survey proving the estate’s location outside the highway’s official right-of-way.
The CEO voiced serious concerns about the demolition process, stating that Winhomes received no prior notification. She questioned why Winhomes was targeted when other structures within the same area remained untouched. Okengwu has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, urging a thorough investigation of the incident and a broader review of the highway project to prevent similar disputes.
“We have invested over ₦250 million in the estate and have complied with our tax obligations,” Okengwu stated. “we support national development, but it must follow due process and respect the rule of law.”
Okengwu is requesting that authorities and autonomous agencies verify Winhomes’ documentation,land title,and the estate’s location relative to the Lagos-calabar Coastal Highway project. She also seeks investigation into reports of intimidation during the demolition. She emphasized that such actions could negatively impact investor confidence in Nigerian real estate and infrastructure.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a Federal Government initiative to improve regional connectivity, has faced land acquisition controversies.Property owners along the route have alleged unlawful demolitions and inadequate compensation. While the Ministry of Works maintains that only properties within the designated right-of-way are affected, the Winhomes case has amplified calls for clarity and fair compensation.
As of now, the Federal Inland revenue Service (FIRS) has not commented on Umahi’s tax evasion allegations. The Ministry of Works has also not responded to Okengwu’s rebuttal or her call for a presidential probe.
What’s next
The situation remains unresolved as Winhomes awaits a response from the government regarding its request for an investigation and review of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project’s implementation.