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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 uncovered two more fake agencies operated by the self‑styled Director‑General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after he submitted the commission’s interim report on the existence and operation of the fake agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu said the investigation revealed that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was never established by law or executive order.
According to the interim report, the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the PFIPC illegally appropriated offices and instruments from the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).
He said the fake agency, using the former PEAC office, engaged in false representation, widespread impersonation and various illegal activities that exploited weaknesses in verification and inter‑agency oversight.
He further stated that the investigation uncovered two additional fake government agencies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).
“These agencies were created using forged legislative instruments and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities,” he said.
The ICPC boss said Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from Foreign Investment Promotion Council to Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to expand its mandate to include revenue generation.
He said: “The investigation found no funds were approved or disbursed for the fake PFIPC/PEAC, and there were no weaknesses in the State House or CBN system.”
Some recommendations of the committee, which was given 30 days to unravel the mystery behind the existence of the fake agency, include prosecution of Mr. Adeyemi; imposing administrative sanctions on public officers who facilitated the illegal operations; and instituting reforms to improve internal controls
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The public officers who were said to be collaborators are from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Accountant‑General’s Office, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.
“The report is interim and the investigation continues to uncover more details to file criminal charges against Adeyemi and his collaborators,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu added that President Tinubu has taken note of the findings and has expressed his commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing the issue.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over what he described as a suspicious and unauthorised payment into one of his private bank accounts.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the transfer originated from an individual or entity unknown to him and carried the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”
According to the statement, neither Atiku nor his campaign solicited, authorised or had any knowledge of the payment.
The former Vice President said the account was strictly private and its details were not in the public domain, raising concerns about how the information could have been obtained.
“How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?”
Atiku said the incident raised broader concerns about the security of Nigerians’ financial information, particularly if the private banking details of a former Vice President and presidential candidate could allegedly be accessed without his consent.
“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe.”
He further expressed concern that the alleged disclosure could have involved individuals with privileged access to confidential information.
According to him, if such access is established, it could expose account holders to criminal elements, including kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and fraudsters.
The former Vice President also called the attention of Nigerians and security agencies to the incident, describing it as part of what he termed a series of “suspicious activities” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We therefore put the Nigerian public and the security agencies on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections.”
Atiku also alleged that the incident could be part of an attempt to damage his reputation as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
He urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as “tired tactics” aimed at character assassination.
“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again.”
The ADC presidential candidate said he remained focused on his political agenda and his stated commitment to providing solutions to the country’s challenges.
“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” before a Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations that he hacked into the server of SunTrust Bank Plc and fraudulently diverted N800 million into several accounts.
The court has remanded him in correctional custody pending hearing and determination of his bail application.
Eze was brought before Justice Friday Ogazi on Thursday, August 6, 2026, on a five-count charge bordering on cybercrime, unauthorised access to critical financial infrastructure, and money laundering.
According to the prosecutor, Muhammed Bajela, the defendant and others still at large allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with the bank’s computer system, resulting in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to SunTrust Bank.
The DSS further alleged that Eze concealed and transferred proceeds linked to the alleged cyberattacks through some financial institutions and unlawfully accessed critical national financial information infrastructure.
Bajela maintained that the offences violated Sections 5, 6(1), and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20, and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the charges were read, Eze pleaded not guilty. Based on his plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of a correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial.
However, the defence counsel, Ezekiel Afrogha, informed Justice Ogazi that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendant and that he had been in the custody of the DSS for over a month. Responding, the prosecution stated it had not been served with the bail application but added that its witnesses were available to proceed.
Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the case until August 24, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) until his bail request is determined.
One of the counts alleges that Eze, between 2023 and 2026, unlawfully hindered the operation of SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system and fraudulently diverted over N800 million belonging to the bank, an offence punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.History
The SunTrust Bank cyber heist is one of the largest banking fraud cases to be prosecuted in Nigeria in recent years.
The DSS, which has constitutional responsibility for protecting the country’s critical national infrastructure, has been investigating the case for several months.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the bank’s server was compromised over a three-year period, with funds gradually siphoned into multiple accounts across various financial institutions.
The arrest and arraignment of Eze mark a significant breakthrough in the investigation, but the prosecution has indicated that other suspects remain at large and are being pursued.
The case has drawn attention to the growing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria’s financial sector, where sophisticated hackers have increasingly targeted banks and other financial institutions.
The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, which was enacted to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for combating cybercrime, provides for severe penalties for offences such as unauthorised access to computer systems, data interference, and computer-related fraud.
The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, also criminalises the concealment and transfer of proceeds of crime.
As the case progresses, the court will determine whether the prosecution can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
For now, Ugochukwu Eze, the man known as “Amazon,” remains in custody, with his bail application scheduled to be heard on August 24, 2026.
SunTrust Bank, meanwhile, continues its battle to recover the N800 million allegedly lost to the hackers, a saga that has now moved from the digital realm into the corridors of justice.
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