Federal High Court Dismisses $250m Claim Against Coastal Highway Project

The Federal High Court has struck out a suit challenging the alignment of the multi-billion-naira Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, ruling that the case lacked merit and disclosed no reasonable cause of action.

The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1803/2024, was filed by Mrs. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Services Limited. She had alleged that the highway project was diverted into a Winhomes residential development at Okun Ajah, Lagos, claiming the move threatened an investment valued at over $250 million and accusing the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, of wrongdoing.

However, documents filed before the court showed that Winhomes had already sold the disputed land to third parties, effectively relinquishing its legal interest in the property.

In its ruling on preliminary objections, the court held that Mrs. Okengwu and her company lacked locus standi to institute the action, having divested ownership of the land. The judge further ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish a reasonable cause of action.

The court also noted that the core issues raised bordering on land use and alleged trespass, fall outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution, and are matters for state high courts.

With the suit struck out, the ruling clears a legal hurdle surrounding the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, which the Federal Government describes as a key infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting connectivity and economic activity along Nigeria’s southern corridor.