The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and Woobs Resources Limited have disowned one James Onyemenam over allegations of forging the building plan of the Nigerian Army ultra-modern shopping complex, also known as Arena, located in the Bolade-Oshodi area of Lagos, and submitting same to ARCON while seeking to be licensed by the body.

A statement signed by Woobs Secretary and Legal Adviser, Victor Ukutt, said sometime in 2006, “Woobs Resources Limited approached the Nigerian Army to rebuild its Mammy Market at Ikeja Military Cantonment into an ultra-modern shopping complex under a Private Partnership Participation (PPP) arrangement.

“The said proposal was approved in 2006 and construction works started in January 2007, and the project was commissioned by the Nigerian Army in 2009.”

Ukutt said consequent upon approval in 2006, the company, while in need of a registered architect, had first contact with Mr James Onyemenam through a recommendation from one Col. Kingsley Umoh, and engaged the service of his company, Bridgeways Global Project Limited to design and supervise the construction of the Arena market in 2006.

“Consequent upon the engagement of Mr. Onyemenam and his firm, they produced architectural designs/drawings for the project in 2006 and construction works started in January 2007. He was paid his professional fee up to the tune of N58.5 million,” he explained.

However, Woobs Resources Limited said it noticed a certain fraudulent and unprofessional conduct unbecoming of a licensed Architect in Mr Onyemenam, which made Woobs Resources Limited write a letter, dated November 30, 2011, to the Architect Registration Council of Nigeria to affirm the status of Mr. Onyemenam as a licensed Architect.

He stated: “In their reply letter dated December 15, 2011 signed by the Registrar, Arc. Sale Yunusa, ARCON vehemently stated in paragraphs 1 and 2 of their letter, that Mr. Onyemenam is not registered and licensed to practice Architecture in Nigeria, and that Bridgeways Global Projects Limited is also not a registered Architectural Firm with the Council.

“As a result of his sundry misdemeanours and forgeries, Woobs Resources Limited fired and dismissed Mr. Onyemenam from her services, which resulted in him filing a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos in 2011 against Woobs Resources Limited. The matter is ongoing at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division.”

Responding, Onyemenam debunked the allegations against him, describing them as false, malicious, misleading, and an attempt to divert public attention from the criminal conspiracy to wit: money laundering, advance fee fraud, forgery, stealing and criminal conversion of 125 billion property of Woobs Resources Limited.