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By Christopher Oji
Real estate developer, Stella Okengwu, chief executive officer of Winhomes Global Services Limited, has called on the Ministry of Works to publicly disclose the legal documents that justified the diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from its 2006 Gazetted Alignment.
Okengwu’s remarks came in response to statements by Minister of Works Dave Umahi during a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, where he challenged her to release the financial account related to the $250 million in diaspora investments in the Okun Ajah area of Lagos State.
The investors have been calling on the government to prevent further destruction of thrir properties to pave way for the trillion-naira L as gos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Okengwu also cautioned the minister against further defaming her character, particularly in his official capacity as a member of the Federal Executive Council of the government of Nigeria.
“I have been made aware of various recent statements from the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, linking me to the individual who accused him of sexual harassment, as well as making baseless allegations regarding diaspora investments in Okun Ajah,” Okengwu stated.
“The minister also accused me of bribing individuals in restaurants in America, which is not only false but represents a serious defamation of my reputable character. His demand for me to publish the financial account for these investments is a thinly veiled attempt to obscure the unlawful diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Highway in Okun Ajah.”
She emphasised that “the minister must first provide legal authorization from the President, the National Assembly, or any state assembly supporting his decision to divert the road in Okun Ajah. He has openly ignored a court order instructing him to maintain the status quo, pending the resolution of an ongoing lawsuit.”
Okengwu,an Engineer ,further stated that, “Linking our group to the woman who accused him of sexual harassment is another reprehensible and defamatory statement from the minister, and he should retract it immediately. The individual in question has no affiliation with our group, and Engr. Umahi should focus on clearing his name, rather than resorting to intimidation tactics against us.
“I must warn the minister to cease any further attempts to tarnish my reputation.”
During the meeting, the minister remarked that: “There is one Mrs. Ifeoma, who visits African restaurants in America and pays people small amounts of money, claiming she invested $250 million. If she indeed collected $250 million, those who received payments should hold her accountable, as nothing has materialized on the land except for a gatehouse.”
He added, “If she truly collected this amount, she must publish the details of the transaction so that we can take her seriously.”
