Obituary: Family releases Abuja programme for late Barrister Nwamaka Chigbo

*Major groups unveil programme of activities to honour late Barrister (Princess) Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo, murdered by kidnappers in Abuja, before her corpse leaves the FCT for home state of Anambra for burial

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Major groups related to late Barrister (Princess) Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo, who was murdered by kidnappers January 5, 2026, in Abuja, FCT, have rolled out a programme of activities to honour her before corpse is taken to her home state of Anambra for burial.

The groups, who have announced their activities are the Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Community of St. Mary John Vianney, SJMV, Lugbe, Abuja, and Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA).

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According to SJMV, there will be three-day prayers, hymns and Requiem Mass for late Barrister Chigbo at SJMV Catholic Church, Lugbe, Abuja.

The groups’ programme activities begin Monday, January 12, by 5.30p.m., and will be led by Sacred Heart Society.

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This will be followed by evening Mass, family noted in a statement.

On Tuesday, January 13, Iwene Tansi Community will lead the prayers starting by 5.30p.m. and end with the celebration of evening Mass.

Whereas on Wednesday, January 14, there will be Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of late Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo to round off the prayer sessions starting 6.00p.m.

Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Procathedral, Area 3, Abuja, Thursday, January 15, will celebrate Requiem Mass for the soul of late Barrister Chigbo.

The statement further noted that all the societies to which the deceased belonged while alive, such as Infant Jesus, Mother of Perpetual Help, Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy, are expected to be at the Mass.

The Requiem Mass will begin by 6p.m.

Besides, the Global Association of Female Attorneys will host a night of tribute Friday, January 16, to honour the life, legacy, and cherished memories of Princess Mediatrix Chigbo.

According to Chinelo Virginia Iriele, President, Global Association of Female Attorneys, “this will be a moment of reflection, remembrance, and mutual support as we celebrate a life well lived and bid her a peaceful farewell.

“Though words may never fully capture the depth of our sorrow, your presence will mean a great deal to us as we come together to honour her enduring impact and beautiful legacy.”

The venue for the night of tribute is Delight Garden and Park, Plot 990, Joshua Madaki Close, Apo Zone E, By Start-Rite School, Abuja.

The event will start by 4:00p.m. and the dress code is black.

Earlier, late Barrister Chigbo’s family had announced the death of Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, an Abuja-based lawyer, at the hands of still-to-be-identified kidnappers in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on Monday, January 5.

Nwamaka was the elder sister of Dr. Maureen Chigbo, Publisher/Editor of Realnews Magazine, Barrister Mrs. Anthonia Ejenike of the Ministry of Justice, and Nwakaego Chigbo.

Her brothers are Celestine Chigbo of Jogene Enterprises and Gerald Chigbo of Sparklinks Nigeria Limited.

The Chigbo’s family, in a statement, had said before late Nwamaka’s abduction, she was on the phone with Anthonia, another sister, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client.

“When Anthonia reverted, Nwamaka’s phone was still live, with her distress cry heard in the background before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable.”

The family stated: “Anthonia alerted her elder sister, Maureen Chigbo, and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail.

“When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying: ‘Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.’ ”

The statement as well indicated that the captors gave no further details, and abruptly terminated subsequent calls.

The family contacted the Police, who sprang into action, assuring that they were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be “in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they might have collected the ransom,” the statement further said.

The family related in the statement: “The kidnappers never initiated any calls, and when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain, ‘I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying’, before the phone finally went dead again.”

While making frantic efforts for Nwamaka’s rescue, the family said, they were informed on Tuesday, 6th January, that “a lady had been found in a critical condition and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital.”

According to the statement, Maureen “immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.”

The statement also noted the Chigbo family had met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended.

Nwamaka was a former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Chapter, a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Global Association of Female Lawyers, GAFA.

She had also served as President of the Catholic Lawyers’ Association, Abuja Branch.

A devout Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until her death, was the Vice-President of the Infant Jesus Association, and member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group.

According to the statement, her family has expressed its “gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.”

The family also thanked “Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers.”

According to the family, her funeral arrangements “will be announced as soon as possible.”

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