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Umahi Pays Condolence Visit To Igwe Family, Condemns Brutal K1lling Of Monarch
Umahi Pays Condolence Visit To Igwe Family, Condemns Brutal K1lling Of Monarch
Umahi pays condolence visit to Igwe family, condemns brutal k1lling of Monarch. The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, on Wednesday paid condolence visit to his former Deputy Governor, His Excellency Barr. Kelechi Igwe, following the brutal killing of his father, HRH Eze Francis Igwe, at the late monarch’s palace in Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The visit was marked by strong words of comfort as the former Ebonyi State Governor stood shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved family, condemning the shocking act while urging them to remain steadfast in faith despite the painful loss.
Addressing members of the family and community leaders, Umahi described the killing of the revered monarch as a deeply disturbing act that reflects the troubling level of cruelty in society.
“When I heard of this unfortunate occurrence, for me it was like a dream, a very, very deep dream. The whole episode is strange, the level of man’s inhumanity against man. You will be with somebody and think he or she is a human being. The people that did this thing are not human beings,” the Minister said.
“And when strange things happen like this, it tells me that the Bible is being fulfilled, that the end is truly at hand because how do people plan such things for weeks and months and yet still have the mind to execute it.”
Umahi recalled the close relationship the late monarch shared with the leadership of Ebonyi State during his time in office, describing the royal father as a man whose wisdom and guidance helped sustain unity and stability.
“He was a father to all of us. We worked very well with him during our struggles, giving us advice, fathering us and making sure that the squabbles you will see between deputy and governor never existed between us. He was a man of wisdom, committed to God and service to humanity.”
Visibly saddened by the tragedy, the Minister prayed for divine justice against those responsible for the killing.
“It is quite very shocking and my prayer is that all the people that did this, the wrath and judgment of God will be upon them.”
He urged the bereaved family, particularly the widow of the late monarch, to take solace in the support of the wider Ebonyi family and in their faith in God.
“I ask you to be consoled, together with your wife and mother. Your mother is now our mother; we have to become her husbands and take care of her. I know it is very difficult for her, but the Bible says that in all things we must give thanks to God. We console the family, we console our mother, we console the community and Ebonyi State at large.”
The Minister also revealed that he had spoken with the Governor of Ebonyi State, commending the commitment shown in responding to the tragic development.
“I have spoken to the Governor and I commend him very highly for the ways and manner he got committed to this. I was deeply touched by his disposition to ensure our father lived, but it pleased God the way it happened.”
Offering words of personal reassurance, Umahi told the family that they would not face the difficult moment alone.
Umahi Pays Condolence Visit To Igwe Family
“I want you to be assured that I am a member of your family and you have my shoulder to lean on in all things. May God not allow this to happen again, not only in Alike Ikwo but also in the entire Ebonyi State and Nigeria. Please, be consoled.”
Responding on behalf of the family, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Barr. Kelechi Igwe, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Minister for standing with them in their moment of grief.
“On behalf of HRH Eze Igwe’s family and members of the cabinet, I want to thank you immensely for finding time to be here. We are grateful to you and from the reservoir of our hearts we say to you that the storms you have weathered in life and are still weathering have taught us to be strong, and we are strong.”
The Minister was accompanied by members of the DUN Foundation, who also joined in offering prayers and solidarity to the grieving family.
Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
Defence Minister Leads High Level Military Review To Deepen Joint Operations In North-East
Defence minister leads high level military review to deepen joint operations in North-East. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on 11 March 2026, joined the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside other Service Chiefs at the Ship House, Abuja, for a high-level operational review aimed at strengthening joint counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Defence Ministry
The strategic session focused on enhancing joint force coordination, sustaining intelligence-driven pressure on terrorist networks, and optimising integrated military strategies to consolidate recent operational gains while protecting civilian populations.
The engagement reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s unified resolve to deliver decisive outcomes in ongoing security operations.
Court To Rule On Admissibility Of Document April 14 In Alleged $35m NCDMB Project
The trial of Akindele Akintoye, Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, continued on Tuesday 10, March 2026 with the court, slating April 14, 2026 for ruling on the admissibility of the formal request of Akintoye, the first defendant to acquire the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
The defendants are facing prosecution by the EFCC on an amended six-count charge, bordering on dishonesty and conversion of $35 million belonging to NCDMB.
During cross-examination of the Fourth Prosecution Witness, Isaac Yalah by counsel for the first and second defendant, E.O. Adekwu, SAN, the witness confirmed to the court that the letter shown to him was a copy of a letter by the first defendant to the board of NCDMB to acquire NCDMB. “I confirm the letter now shown to me is a copy of that letter from the first defendant to buy off NCDMB entirely,” he said.
However, the application by the defence counsel to tender the document in evidence was opposed by prosecution counsel, E.E. Iheanacho, SAN, who urged the court to dismiss the application and reject the document. “I have an objection to the admissibility of this document. The ground is that, this document is a photocopy of an original and it is addressed to NCDMB which is a public institution and such document should have been certified.
The only admissible document in law of a copy of a public document is a certified true copy. We rely on Section 89 of the Evidence Act and Section 102 of the Evidence Act, and we also commend the case of Adeyefa against Bamgboye 2013, 10NWLR, part 1863 page 532. We also commend the case of Onwuzuruike against Edoziem 2016 6NWLR part 1508, page 205. We urge the court to discountenance it and dismiss it,” he said.
While urging the court to admit the document, counsel for the first and second defendant, highlighted some points of law, adding that the document was no more a public document, but a private one, stating also that the court ordered the document by way of subpoena. “In addition, this court ordered a subpoena, dated 19 November, 2025 to produce this document on NCDMB. Because of that, we submit that this document be admissible on all grounds and we urge my lord to admit it,” he said.
NCDMB
In reply to the subpoena, the prosecution counsel argued that “The subpoena issued was only to produce the document and not to tender a document in evidence, assuming such subpoena is served to NCDMB, the officer of that institution can only produce the documents and place it before the court, and it does not cure any deficiency in admissibility of the document.
“The subpoena is not a basis for which a party can circumvent an evidence as the requirement of the admissibility of a document under the Evidence ACT. This witness was called by the prosecution not on the strength of the subpoena served. This witness is no longer a staff of NCDMB having retired from the board and there is nothing to show that he was served with any subpoena or a subpoena brought to his attention. We urge the court to reject the document,” he said.
Justice Ekerete adjourned till April 14, 2026 for ruling on the admissibility of the document, May 18 and 19, 2026 for continuation of cross-examination.
NNPC: Nigeria Unlocks $20 Billion Deepwater Investment
NNPC: Nigeria unlocks $20 billion deepwater investment. NNPC Limited has secured Presidential approval for fiscal incentives that will unlock the Final Investment Decision on the Bonga Southwest Aparo deepwater project.
The project will:
• Attract ~$20 billion in investment
• Create 5,000+ jobs
• Deliver 150,000 barrels/day of oil
• Produce 140 million scf/day of gas
NNPC
This reinforces the country’s position as a leading energy investment destination.
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