A transport operator in Ebonyi State, UDISAM Mass Transit Company, has filed petitions to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies over alleged advance fee fraud, intimidation, and threats to life involving a former state government official and his associates.
The petitions, dated April 3 and April 22, 2026, were submitted through the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and legal representatives. In the documents, the company’s director, Comrade James Igwe, accused former Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Celestine Nwali, and others of obtaining money under false pretences.
According to the complaint, the transport firm had previously obtained approval from the Ebonyi State Government and paid the required fees for a loading bay at the Central Motor Park in Abakaliki during the previous administration.
However, the petition alleged that at the beginning of the current administration, the former commissioner claimed authority over motor park operations and instructed the company to make payments through him and his associates.
The company further stated that it paid N400,000 to individuals presented as representatives of the former commissioner, believing the transaction to be official.
The dispute reportedly escalated after the company discovered irregularities in the payment process. It alleged that the accused persons later mobilised suspected hoodlums to disrupt its operations, obstruct business activities, and issue threats.
The petitioner also accused the group of intimidation, including the alleged invasion of company premises by individuals dressed in military uniforms, posing risks to staff, workers, and management.
The company is urging security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly, ensure accountability, and provide protection for lives and property, warning that failure to act could escalate tensions.
When contacted, the former commissioner, Hon. Celestine Nwali, said he was in a meeting and unable to respond to the allegations.
Another individual linked to the matter, Mr Toochukwu Nwali, whose account was allegedly used for the transaction, confirmed having a dispute with the company’s director but declined further comments, stating he was not available at the time of filing the report.
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