David Umahi: The Murderer who keeps getting away?

By Adeola Aderounmu

2021

Five engineers who were consultants appointed by NELAN Consulting Limited to supervise the African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded Ring Road Project in Ebonyi State, travelled to Abakaliki in 2021 for a meeting convened by the Ebonyi State Government but allegedly disappeared after arriving in the state. David Umahi was the governor of Ebonyi during the time. The 5 engineers disappeared after the meeting and they were never seen again.

The cover up under David Umahi as the governor of Ebonyi State ought to be revisited ASAP. Invariably the cover up would also include the Nigerian Police, the DSS and the Ebonyi State high court.  The former governor and the institutions saddled with the security of the citizens can thus be regarded as perpetrators and accomplices in the disappearance of the 5 noble engineers. No country in the world should survive this kind of atrocity. Never should the citizens allow heinous crimes to be swept under the carpet. Never!

The families of the missing engineers have not been given the answers to the question: where are our breadwinners since 2021? One can presumed that they have been murdered and David Umahi should be held accountable.

We must say the names of the engineers and we must never forget about them:

Engineer Ikechukwu Ejiofor

Engineer Samuel Aneke

Engineer Nelson Onyemeh

Engineer Ernest Edeani

Engineer Stanley Nwazulum

2026

Fast forward to 2026, David Umahi (the alleged murderer of 5 engineers in Abakaliki) is now a Minister for Works under Tinubu’s jaguda government.  A female worker at the Ministry, Mary Habila, ended up dead at Umahi’s residence on June 27 2026 but her death was made public on July 10 2026. David Umahi was at home when the lady named Habila died at his residence.

We should not be arguing about this case so much. What we expect is the immediate sacking of David Umahi and his presentation at a court of law while being remanded in prison.  Mr. Umahi has been talking from both sides of his mouth and we don’t really want to hear more from him. We want to try the Nigerian Police’s investigative ability and the Nigerian court process in this murder charge against David Umahi.

His stories which are all lies kept changing since the murder charge against him became public. He is not to defend himself through press conferences and press statements. Mr. Tinubu, the head of government in Nigeria, should do the needful. Sack David without delay and let the court proceedings begin.

Mind you, I am not unaware of the several criminal cases against Nigerian politicians that have been swept under the carpets over the last 50 to 60 years. I am not unaware of how useless the Nigerian government is. I am not expecting Nigeria to succeed under the present useless unitary system. Yet, a call for justice cannot escape my conscience on any matter at all. The Gbajabiamila criminal case is still fresh and pending. There are also new cases everyday of massive looting and corruption under Tinubu from using the budget to steal and outright negligence of services to citizens. These are familiar situations as far as Nigeria, a damn failed state is concerned.

To say I am unaware of the several misdemeanors under Tinubu, under Babangida, under Obasanjo, under Buhari, under Jonathan, under Yar Adua and the rest of the criminals that have ruled Nigeria, would be a fallacy. Yet, and again, we keep asking for justice. We owe ourselves such duties to humanity and to an expected sanity in public offices.

If David Umahi stays as a Minister, we can assume that Bola Tinubu is supporting the murder of Mary Habila. As far as I am concerned, only the sacking of David Umahi and his days in court can exonerate the Tinubu Jaguda government from the murder of Mary Habila

This matter won’t die. No!

A governor or minister who commits murder (or allegedly does), should never be covered by any form of f****** political immunity. David Umahi should be arrested ASAP. In general, immunity clause for criminals called politicians should be removed. You can’t kill and walk free. You should not loot and walk free. That is plain senselessness, barbaric and uncivilized!