Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, has come under huge public criticism for threatening to kill Peoples Gazette’s reporters for exposing his looting of state treasury.  Many also called on Nigerian anti-graft agencies to investigate and prosecute Mr. Umahi for plundering Ebonyi State treasury.  

The Gazette had in an exclusive report on Friday exposed how Mr. Umahi transferred over N3 billion to his private firm from Ebonyi treasury, in brazen disregard for extant code of conduct regulations precluding senior public officials from conducting private businesses, except subsistence agriculture, while in office.

Apparently infuriated by the Gazette’s refusal to retract or delete the expose, an aide to Mr. Umahi on Saturday called, threatening to kill the Gazette’s reporters. 

“You’ve just done harm to the image of Ebonyi State, and I can assure you that if you don’t retract it, we might fall out with you,” Mr. Umahi’s henchman, who called with 08072844980, a line belonging to an office in Ebonyi State said. “It’s not in terms of going to sue you, we know how to do it. This thing can cost people’s lives, this particular thing you did can cost people’s lives, and I know what I’m saying. I’m close to you. I can see you. Quote me anywhere.”

Mr. Umahi’s threat comes amidst increasing attacks on journalists globally. At least 30 journalists were murdered for doing their job across the globe in 2020, Committee to Protect Journalists reported last year.

Alarmed by Mr. Umahi’s death threat to the Gazette reporters, Nigerians on social media called on federal authorities to investigate the threat and ensure that no harm happens to the Gazette’s reporters.

Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, in a tweet said: “Ebonyi State’s @DaveUmahi has chosen to take his domestic exploits in political violence and decapitation to the national stage. His latest targets are reporters working @GazetteNGR. Will SSS, @PoliceNG and @Nigeriagov notice? This is dreadful!”

Another Nigerian @ojstan in a tweet said: “Dear @PoliceNG_CRU you have some work to do here, the phone number is there on the display, you can track it like you tracked #Endsars protesters before we lose another journalist.”

Moses Ochonu, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, in a facebook post, said: “This man wants to be president. By the way, if you’re not reading People’s Gazette online newspaper, currently Nigeria’s most credible investigative journalistic outfit, then hurry to their website or Facebook page and thank me later. They have all the receipts and PDFs of the feast of corruption going on in Buhari’s Nigeria.”

“Gov. Umahi is a rogue politician. All he cares is loot, loot and loot. The state is bleeding. Thank God @GazetteNGR is coming to our rescue in the state. Other media houses kept quiet for long and allowed things go sour”, @DrOkaforEmmanu1 said in a tweet.

“Dave Umahi is not only a thief and a criminal but also a soon to be murderer. Where is @officialEFCC, @ICPC_PE, @PoliceNG?” @architectsunepa said.

Mr. Umahi is not a stranger to attacks on reporters. Barely last year, he sent out reporters from the Vanguard and Sun over critical reports of his handling of coronavirus pandemic in the state. The reporters were brutalised and humiliated.

When reached for comments prior to our publication of his suspicious use of state funds on Friday, Mr. Umahi declined to challenge the accuracy of the Gazette’s findings. Instead, he sent a barrage of insults and threatened legal consequences in messages to the Gazette.

“What is ur f**kin business about who transacts govt business?” the governor said in a message to the Gazette. “Go to hell and die.”

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