Democracy and good governance advocacy group, Concerned Nigerians, has written to the United States’ embassy in Nigeria seeking a visa ban on Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and his family. 

In a letter by its Convener, Deji Adeyanju, the group sought sanctions against Mr. Umahi for threatening to kill Peoples Gazette’s reporters and money laundering. 

‘Our attention has been drawn to a news report by an online Nigerian news platform, the Peoples Gazette, accusing the executive governor of Ebonyi state, Engineer David Umahi of money laundering and acts contrary to the extant code of conduct prohibiting public orders from conducting private businesses. 

“After the publication, it is also alleged by the Peoples Gazette that aides of the governor threatened the platform’s reporters,” the group’s letter stated.

The group stated that efforts to constitutionally checkmate erring public officials were frustrated by systemic corruption and asked the US embassy to investigate the allegations and place a visa ban on Mr. Umahi and his family members if found guilty. 

“Accordingly, we urge you to investigate the veracity of this publication by giving Governor Dave Umahi fair hearing and if found culpable, place a visa ban on him and members of his family to serve as a deterrent to other Nigerian politicians. 

“This has become necessary because all other constitutional means of checkmating a thieving public official have been eroded or deliberately weakened by those who ordinarily should be checkmating them,” Concerned Nigerians further explained.

In an investigative report, the Gazette had revealed how the governor transferred billions of naira from Ebonyi’s treasury to his company’s account. 

Following the expose, Mr. Umahi threatened to kill the Gazette’s reporters.

Nigerians had since criticised the governor for his high-handedness and disdain for the rule of law and press freedom.