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Umahi denies treating 2021 missing NELAN Engineers with kid gloves
Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, on Monday denied treating the issue of five missing NELAN engineers, who have been missing since November 3, 2021, with kid gloves.
Umahi was the Governor of Ebonyi State when the incident occurred.
He said the engineers were victims of the communal war between the people of Effium and Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira.
The five missing engineers were constructing a road in the community for the state government during the war when they were declared missing and have not been seen since.
On Monday, some persons identified as family members and sympathizers of the missing NELAN engineers staged a protest in Abuja, the nation’s capital, demanding justice for their deaths.
Reacting to the protest, the Minister said the engineers were not singled out in isolation. According to him, they were victims of a wider conflict that tragically claimed many lives during the Effium/Ezza-Effium war period.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi, who sympathized with the families of the missing engineers, explained that immediately information about their disappearance reached him, he swiftly mobilized security agencies and launched intensive search and investigative efforts to determine their whereabouts and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He further said he personally visited the incident site with security operatives and was directly involved in the search efforts, stressing that he never treated the matter lightly and never looked away from the responsibility of the state to pursue the truth, contrary to the protesters’ claims.
“The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has been drawn to the protest that occurred today by persons identified as family members and sympathizers of the late engineers of NELAN Consulting Engineers.
“First and foremost, the Honourable Minister acknowledges the deep pain that comes with the loss of loved ones. The death of the NELAN engineers remains a painful tragedy. No family deserves such grief, and the Honourable Minister understands the weight of that loss.
“As Governor of Ebonyi State at the time, Senator Umahi shared in that pain and treated the matter with the seriousness it deserved.
“For the purpose of clarity and public record, it is important to emphasize that the incident occurred on November 3, 2021.
“The unfortunate disappearance of the engineers occurred at the height of the violent Effium vs. Ezza-Effium communal conflict, a crisis that consumed lives, destroyed property, and threw the area into severe insecurity.
“The engineers were not singled out in isolation; they were victims of a wider conflict that tragically claimed many lives during that period.
“Immediately the information about the incident reached the then Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, CON, he swiftly mobilized security agencies and launched intensive search and investigative efforts to determine the whereabouts of the engineers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“He personally visited the incident site with security operatives and was directly involved in the search efforts. He never treated the matter lightly and never looked away from the responsibility of the state to pursue the truth.
“These efforts led to the arrest of individuals involved in the dastardly act. Those arrested confessed to committing the crime, and they have remained in custody since then. The matter is still before the court, and the judicial process continues even after Senator Umahi left office as Governor.
“It must therefore be clearly understood that the government under Senator Umahi did not abandon the matter, suppress it, or fail to act. Swift investigative actions were taken, arrests were made, and the suspects were handed over to the justice system, where the case continues to be prosecuted.
“The Honourable Minister wishes to reiterate that he never wished for such a tragedy to occur. The communal violence that engulfed Effium at the time created a dangerous environment that sadly led to the loss of many innocent lives, including the NELAN engineers. As Governor then, he worked tirelessly to restore order and address the conflict that had devastated the area.
“While the Minister sympathizes deeply with the families and understands their grief, it is important that public discourse on this painful matter remains guided by facts and the ongoing judicial process.
“Senator Engr. David Umahi remains committed to justice, truth, and the rule of law, and he continues to pray for the repose of the souls of the departed and for strength for their families,” Umahi stated.
Wives of five missing Engineers petition Tinubu, National Assembly
The wives of the five missing engineers recently petitioned President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, requesting their intervention in the matter.
The engineers, Nelson Onyemeh, Ernest Edeani, Ikechukwu Ejiofor, Samuel Aneke and Stanley Nwazulum, all employees of NELAN Construction Ltd., were reportedly abducted in November 2021 by armed men while supervising the Abakaliki Ring Road project in Ebonyi State, a project financed by the African Development Bank.
They have not been seen since then.
In the petition written by the families’ lawyers, CNO Attorneys and dated 10 March, the women – Patricia Onyemeh, Lovett Edeani, Ifeoma Ejiofor, Esther Aneke and Nwazulum – asked the federal government to compel the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to account for the missing engineers and intensify efforts to determine their fate.
They also demanded a comprehensive investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the abduction.
They said they had endured years of uncertainty over the disappearance of their husbands, who were consultants supervising the road project.
According to the petitioners, the security agencies have failed to provide any clear information about the whereabouts of the engineers despite the passage of several years since their abduction.
They also alleged that the investigation into the case suffered a setback after an officer of the SSS, Victor Onyesom, who was handling the case, was allegedly removed from the probe without formal notice.
They claimed his work laptop, which contained investigative materials, was seized by the agency at the height of the investigation.
“Our Clients lament helplessly that till date, nothing meaningful has been heard about the whereabouts of the victims who are husbands, fathers and breadwinners in their respective families, instead, innumerable intrigues and conspiracies including a sudden unlawful dismissal of the investigation officer of the Department of Security Services (DSS), one Mr. Victor Chijioke Onyesom without a letter of dismissal, alongside confiscation of his laptop by the security service at the peak of the investigation,” the petition read.
They argued that the continued failure to resolve the case undermines Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which places the security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of government.
Providing background to the case, the petitioners said the five engineers were abducted in the Effium community of Ebonyi State in November 2021.
They alleged that tensions had developed between the lead consultant, Nelson Onyemeh, and the administration of former Ebonyi governor David Umahi over the terms of the consultancy contract for the road project.
According to the petition, the project’s funding arrangement with the African Development Bank limited the involvement of the state government in the financial management of the contract.
The petitioners said disagreements arose after the state government allegedly attempted to alter the project terms and proposed that another firm take a leading role in the consultancy.
They claimed the NELAN consultants rejected the proposal, a development they said triggered hostility between the parties.
The petition further alleged that during the early stages of the investigation, the then-governor publicly announced during a state executive council meeting that the engineers had been killed and buried in a forest by local fighters, even though the police and SSS were still investigating the abduction.
The families questioned how the governor obtained such information before the conclusion of the official investigation.
They urged the president and the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that those responsible for the abduction are identified and prosecuted.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that there are two main reasons a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is being detained by the commission.
It also revealed that legal action was taken against the Enugu-born politician after he failed to honour several invitations extended to him through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, and dated 15 May 2026.
John Odey, the spokesman of the commission in a statement on Wednesday explained that the commission later approached Federal High Court, Abuja Division, with the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026) in order to effect Nnaji’s arrest after his failure to honour invitation.
Nnaji was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, when he boarded a private jet to Abuja.
Corroborating the development, the ICPC spokesman said Nnaji’s arrest was effected at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival where he was led to the commission’s custody immediately.
According to him, Nnaji is being probed on forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
The statement read, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (M), following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji’s arrival.
“He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
“The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated 15 May 2026.
“The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address.
“Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.
“The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026).
“The order, issued on 11 June 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation into allegations bordering on:
“Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); and “False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
“Following the arrest, Mr. Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations are expected to continue. The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.”
The immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.
Authoritative sources at the airport confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES, saying Mr Nnaji would be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
The reported arrest comes weeks after the Federal High Court reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and investigate Nnaji over the allegations.
The court also authorised the anti-graft agency to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning.
According to the ICPC, its application to the court followed Nnaji’s alleged refusal to appear before investigators despite several invitations relating to the forgery allegations.
The case stems from a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged University of Nigeria degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The report alleged that the documents were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service.
According to the publication, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria did not issue him the degree certificate in question, a development the newspaper said corroborated its investigation.Newspapers
The former minister had previously denied the existence of the court order authorising his arrest, dismissing the publication as a “media trial.”
However, on June 18, he reportedly filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the arrest order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the reported arrest, while Nnaji’s legal team had yet to publicly respond to the latest development.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restored the bail it had earlier granted to activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore is facing a two-count cybercrime charge filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post.
Trial Justice Muhammed Umar, who had earlier granted the defendant bail on self-recognisance, on June 16 revoked the bail and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The order came after Sowore failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial, even though he wrote a letter explaining his absence and requesting a new date.
When proceedings resumed in the case on June 22, Justice Umar ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison.
Dissatisfied with the actions the court took against him, Sowore—whose legal team had initially withdrawn from the case over alleged bias by the judge—secured a new lawyer, who promptly filed a motion to restore his bail and quash the arrest warrant.
When the case came up on Tuesday, Justice Umar held that he was minded to admit the defendant to bail.
However, the court listed some conditions that had to be met before he would be released from prison custody.
Aside from granting him bail to the tune of N200 million, the court held that the defendant must produce two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport.
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Sowore, in the application he anchored on Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 66 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, insisted that the orders the court made against him were unjust and unwarranted.
The defendant had, on December 2, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The charges allege offences under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The offending posts, made on August 25, 2025, were in response to President Tinubu’s claim, made in Brazil, that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
Angered by the posts, the DSS demanded that X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. ban Sowore’s accounts and remove the posts.
The security agency also wrote to Sowore, asking him to delete the posts from all platforms.
Non-compliance with the request led to the charges.
The prosecution claims the defamatory posts were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish the president’s reputation.
Exhibits include printouts of the posts and the DSS letters.
X Inc. and Meta were initially co-defendants but were delisted in the amended charge.
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