Stephen Elijah, Personal Assistant (PA) to late Chief Charles Onuoha, a former senior staff of Shell Nigeria, a British multinational oil and gas company, has been arrested by the combined efforts of Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged role in the death of the Abia State born Chief.
According to a family source who pleaded anonymous, in an exclusive phone call interview with AFRIPOST, Elijah was a PA to Chief Onuoha until his passing in October 2023.
The source explained that shortly after retirement, Chief Onuoha developed heart-related and eye problems and needed to travel to Canada for possible surgery and general medical attention.
The source noted that after contacting a hospital (name withheld) in Canada and they agreed on the fee for the medical treatment, Chief Onuoha made frantic efforts to save his life and raised the funds needed for the overseas treatment and flew to Canada in July 2023.
But upon arrival in the hospital to make payment to start the medical procedures, unfortunately his dollar account in which he saved over thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) for his treatment was found empty and he became stranded in the foreign country. He was there till October when he found help to return after his health had deteriorated and sadly he died a few days after his arrival in Nigeria.
Continuing, the source said after his burial, a petition was filed to the EFCC to investigate the missing funds that primarily led to the unfortunate death of Chief Onuoha.
The source further revealed that upon swinging into action, the EFCC was to trace the movement of the funds to different accounts leading to the revelation of the identity of the prime suspect, Elijah.
“Elijah’s involvement sent a shock wave to the family, the source said, “because they least expected him. He was a confidante and a trusted hand of their husband and father. The family members, especially the wife maintained good relationship and had high trust with Elijah. She still gifts him money, food items and clothes for himself and family,” the source added.
The suspect, Elijah who was apprehended by Police team from Galadimawa Police Division under FCT command was lured to come and pick up a parcel for his former boss’s wife in front of AMSSCO Platinum City estate gate, Galadimawa where he was arrested by the Police and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
According to the source, the EFCC is yet to officially brief the family with details of their investigations and findings so far.
Current, the entire family of Onuoha is devastated over the involvement of the suspect as further investigations continue on the matter.
