A transport operator in Ebonyi State, UDISAM Mass Transit Company, has lodged complaints with the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies, alleging advance‑fee fraud, criminal intimidation and threats to life involving a former state government official and his associates.
In petitions dated 3 April and 22 April 2026, submitted through the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the company’s legal counsel, Director Comrade James Igwe accused former Commissioner for Transport Hon. Celestine Nwali and several other individuals of fraudulently obtaining money on false pretences. The petitions state that UDISAM Mass Transit had previously secured approval and paid the Ebonyi State Government the required fees for a loading bay at the Central Motor Park in Abakaliki during the previous administration.
According to the complaints, at the onset of the current administration the former commissioner reportedly approached the company, claimed authority over motor‑park operations and instructed that all payments be made through him and his agents. Acting on that instruction, the company paid ₦400,000 to persons identified as the commissioner’s representatives, believing the transaction to be legitimate.
Problems surfaced when the company discovered discrepancies in the payment. The complainants allege that the accused then mobilised suspected hoodlums to disrupt the firm’s operations, obstruct business activities and issue threats of violence. Several of the perpetrators, allegedly dressed in military uniforms, are said to have intimidated staff, besieged the company’s premises and posed a serious threat to the lives of the director, employees and workers.
The petitions call on security agencies to investigate the matter, prosecute those responsible and ensure protection of lives and property, warning that failure to act could lead to a breach of peace.
When contacted, Hon. Celestine Nwali said he was in a meeting and could not comment on the allegations. Mr Toochukwu Nwali, whose bank account was reportedly used to receive the ₦400,000 on the former commissioner’s behalf, acknowledged a dispute with the company’s director, identified as Mr Samanja, but said he was in Ikwo Local Government Area at the time of filing the report and did not respond to further calls.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over corruption and security in Nigeria’s transport sector, and authorities have been urged to act swiftly to prevent escalation.
