November 26, (THEWILL) – Businessman, Stanley Uzochukwu has finally opened the doors to his hospitality business. An architectural masterpiece situated in the heart of Victoria Island, the design of The Del Borough Lagos is akin to that of The Dorchester, London/Paris. Guests beat their chest when they describe the hotel as being world class, arguably one of the most exclusive hotels in Nigeria currently with some of the best chefs and providing top notch service.
On the board of the hotel which Uzochukwu plans to expand are His Royal Majesty, The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe CFR as the chairman; Dr Linus Idahosa, founder of DelYok Creative Academy and husband to Nollywood actress, Stephanie Idahosa, as a member of the board and Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, as a member, among several others.
Recall that THEWILL had exclusively reported two years ago that the man behind Stanel Group of Companies was all set to expand his business frontiers with a stake in the hospitality industry. Unfortunately, the humongous project got delayed, no thanks to Ayanda Carter, an interior designer who attempted to throw spanners into the work.
The supposedly gifted South African-born design and architecture guru of Mozambican descent who is based in Nigeria was contracted by Stanley for the job. They both signed a deal costing N38 million for her services. This was in December 2019. Three years later, Carter was yet to complete her part of the deal despite receiving full payment for her services. Instead, she ended up shipping in goods of inferior quality in 12, 40-foot containers, a far cry from what was agreed on.
Unable to provide a cogent reason for reneging on her agreement with Stanley, Amanda threatened to abandon and sabotage the work. She eventually stopped taking calls, stopped supervision of the project and did other things that caused Stanley to lose additional millions of naira. Without warning she made a report to the police alleging that Stanley was threatening her. She was later invited by the police for questioning but on investigation and when the true situation of things began to unravel, a case with Criminal Charge No: CR/102/2023 was instituted against her by the Inspector General of Police at an Upper Area Court in Abuja. She was charged with Criminal Breach of Trust, Cheating and Criminal Intimidation contrary to session 312, 322, and 397 of the Panel Code Act and she was remanded in Suleja Correctional Center. After six days in detention, she was granted a bail bond of N100 million and one surety who must be a public servant from Grade Level 13 and above. The judge also ordered her to submit her passport to the registry as she is not a Nigerian to prevent her from running to her mother country if she perfects her bail condition. Well Stanley seems to have gone past that ordeal and has since flung the doors of his hotel wide open for guests.
Rising from an obscure background, to setting up a one stop mega facility that boasts of a well-equipped 1000 sitting capacity, STANEL tyres, STANEL engine oil, STANEL gas plant and cylinders and other everyday facilities that make life convenient in Anambra State, Stanley who is in his 4os has no doubt done quite well for himself in the business world. The gangly dude is married to Irene, daughter of the immediate past minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen.
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