PROFESSOR Ibrahim A. Gambari, distinguished diplomat, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, and founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Barrister Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo.
In a condolence letter dated January 12, 2026, personally addressed to the bereaved’s sister, Dr Maureen Chigbo, Prof. Gambari expressed profound sympathy over the “huge and irreplaceable loss.” He noted the solace in knowing Barrister Chigbo “lived her life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and has touched so many lives with her benevolence.”
The former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations prayed for the repose of her soul and for divine fortitude for the grieving family.
This gesture of solidarity comes amidst funeral arrangements and follows a significant update from law enforcement regarding the tragic case that has gripped the nation’s capital.
Flashback: A Brutal Abduction and Murder
Barrister Nwamaka Chigbo, an active legal practitioner and former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (Abuja Branch), was brutally murdered after being kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The ordeal began while she was on the phone with her sister, Anthonia. After a brief interruption, Anthonia returned to the line to hear her sister’s distress cries before the call cut off. Subsequent calls were answered by a male voice who cursed and demanded a three-million-naira ransom, threatening to kill her.
The family immediately alerted the police. In a later, harrowing call, family members heard the lawyer screaming: “I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying,” before all communication ceased.
After a night of frantic coordination with police, the family was informed on Tuesday morning that a woman had been found critically injured. Dr Maureen Chigbo flew from Lagos to an Abuja hospital, where she identified her sister’s body in the mortuary, bearing signs of severe torture including bruises, swollen eyes, and a cracked skull.
Police Breakthrough and Arrests
The FCT Police Command on Sunday announced the arrest of three suspects linked to the crime. According to a statement by Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh, the arrests were made between January 5th and 10th following a direct order from the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye.
Operatives from the Command’s Scorpion Squad tracked the victim’s phone to the Kubwa area, leading to the capture of Saifullahi Yusuf (22), Ishau Yusuf (24), and Minka’ilu Jibril (aka Dan-Hajia), all from Kaduna State.
Preliminary investigations reveal the suspects are part of a “one-chance” armed robbery syndicate. They confessed that on January 5th, Barrister Chigbo entered their black Volkswagen Golf 3 on the Kubwa Expressway, was threatened, assaulted, and then pushed from the moving vehicle after an alleged refusal to cooperate. They stole her phone, sold it for ₦120,000, and shared the proceeds. A fourth accomplice, Musa, remains at large.
Police recovered an array of weapons and tools, including knives, scissors, a long chain, and pliers. The Commissioner of Police has commended the operatives and reaffirmed the commitment to rid the FCT of criminal elements.
Funeral Programmes Announced
Meanwhile, tributes have begun to pour in for the late lawyer, known for her deep Catholic faith and professional contributions.
She was a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA), and a former President of the Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja.
The Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Community of St. Mary John Vianney Church, Lugbe, and GAFA have announced a series of funeral activities in Abuja.
A three-day prayer session commenced on Monday, January 12, at the SJMV Church, leading to a Requiem Mass on Wednesday, January 14. Another Requiem Mass will hold at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Procathedral, Area 3, on Thursday, January 15.
GAFA will host a “Night of Tribute” on Friday, January 16, at Delight Garden and Park, Apo Zone E, Abuja. The family has expressed gratitude for the support received and stated that the body will subsequently be transported to her home state, Anambra, for burial.
