***Demands Immediate Presidential Action
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned what it described as a “shocking and unacceptable pattern of impunity” in the prolonged WINHOMES Global Services dispute, warning that the handling of the case is fast eroding Nigeria’s credibility as a constitutional democracy and investment destination.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the National Cordinator of the Association Conrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko accused relevant government actors of deliberate delay, administrative opacity, and disregard for due process in a matter that has remained unresolved for over two years despite repeated engagements, documentation, and appeals by affected diaspora investors.
HURIWA said the continued failure to resolve the dispute or pay compensation represents a “dangerous signal” that investor rights can be undermined without consequence, adding that such conduct threatens both domestic confidence and foreign direct investment inflows.
The association also cited a widely circulated video in which the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, reportedly admitted to personally ordering the demolition of the WINHOMES Estate while stating that the directive did not originate from the President.
HURIWA said the claim, if not promptly and transparently clarified, raises “serious constitutional red flags” about the abuse of executive authority, due process violations, and the concentration of power outside lawful institutional checks.
The group insisted that no public official should unilaterally authorize the destruction of private investments without full legal justification, proper approvals, and timely compensation, describing the alleged action as “a test case for accountability in governance.”
HURIWA further alleged that the affected investor—a diaspora Nigerian woman who mobilized significant capital into the country—has suffered not only property destruction but also prolonged institutional neglect and reputational harm.
It warned that Nigeria risks being seen globally as a jurisdiction where investor protection is conditional and where administrative silence replaces legal remedy.
“This is not just about one estate. It is about whether Nigeria is governed by law or by discretion,” the group declared.
HURIWA said the continued delay in resolving the matter amounts to a “systemic failure of justice delivery,” stressing that no credible investment climate can survive prolonged uncertainty, especially where state actions are involved.
The association demanded immediate intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the matter has reached a level where only direct presidential oversight can restore public confidence and prevent further reputational damage.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately publish a full and transparent account of the demolition, including authorizing officers, legal basis, approvals obtained, and compensation framework, if any exists.
HURIWA further urged anti-corruption and oversight agencies to launch an urgent, independent investigation into possible abuse of office, procedural breaches, and violations of constitutional safeguards.
The group warned that continued silence or bureaucratic delay would be interpreted as institutional complicity, adding that Nigeria must not normalize what it described as “executive overreach dressed as development policy.”
It called on Nigerians in the diaspora and the international community to take note of the case, arguing that investor confidence is being undermined by what it described as “avoidable governance failures and lack of accountability.”
HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to sustained public advocacy until what it called “justice, accountability, and restitution” are fully achieved.
“Nigeria cannot claim to seek investment while simultaneously destroying investor confidence through arbitrary actions and delayed justice. This culture of silence and impunity must end now,” the statement concluded.
— Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator,
