A fierce storm has erupted in the nation’s capital as Dr. Engr. Stephen Achema Akpa, the highly respected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zoe New Dawn Nigeria Limited, has publicly challenged Hon. Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, popularly called Ikukuoma, over what has now become one of Abuja’s most scandalous real estate controversies — the unresolved disappearance of a staggering $1.2 million.
Documented evidence, backed by verified bank receipts, shows that the massive sum was transferred from Zoe New Dawn Nigeria Limited directly into the account of Chupi Company Limited, owned by Prince Ukachukwu. The payment, made in 2022, was for prime hectares of land in Abuja. Yet, more than two years later, no land has been delivered, and the $1.2 million remains unreturned.
The explosive matter, once shrouded in whispers, burst into the public arena after a viral video revealed Dr. Akpa confronting Ukachukwu at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The dramatic scene saw the estate mogul demanding justice and an immediate refund, while Ukachukwu, unable to provide answers, relied on his heavy security detail to escape public disgrace. The footage, now circulating widely, has sent shockwaves through both political and business circles.
In a further twist, it was gathered that a follow-up meeting was also held at Transcorp between Dr. Akpa and Junior Ukachukwu, the son of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. At the meeting, Junior reportedly acknowledged the matter and assured Dr. Akpa that he would relay the concerns directly to his father for resolution. However, to date, nothing concrete has come out of that promise, further deepening frustration around the scandal.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Akpa expressed deep resentment, noting that he is “the age of Prince Ukachukwu’s son,” yet has been left unpaid for over two years. He further alleged that the very money he paid was diverted to compromise judicial processes. According to him, his funds were used “to pay judges for the kangaroo judgement” that enabled Ukachukwu to obtain land documents — documents which were later revoked by the present FCT Minister.
You could also recall that in 2023, Dr. Akpa was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over funds traced to this same transaction. Sources close to the matter insist that the $1.2 million paid to Hon. Prince Ukachukwu was at the very heart of the EFCC’s action against Dr. Akpa, dragging an otherwise transparent businessman into an embarrassing ordeal. The revelation has fueled anger among observers, who argue that it is unjust for the payer to be subjected to detention while the recipient of the funds continues to evade accountability.
What makes this scandal even more damaging is the personality involved. Prince Ukachukwu, beyond being a politician and businessman, also parades himself as an evangelist — a preacher of faith and morality. Critics say the $1.2 million controversy has torn apart that image, exposing a stark contradiction between his public proclamations and private dealings.
This is not Ukachukwu’s first brush with controversy. In 2016, a shocking scene unfolded when a man, allegedly owed money by Ukachukwu, undressed himself in protest right in front of the politician’s gate, causing public outrage until sources later confirmed that he was eventually paid. From repeated clashes with the FCT administration over alleged illegal property developments to long-standing disputes surrounding Abuja’s master plan, Ukachukwu’s name has often been tied to land-related scandals. But analysts argue that this $1.2 million debacle, supported by indisputable receipts and direct financial trails, is by far the gravest and most damaging.
Industry experts now warn that the implications go beyond individuals. “If a $1.2 million deal, sealed with verifiable receipts, can vanish without consequence, then Abuja’s property market has become a minefield for investors,” one stakeholder remarked. Many fear that such scandals are corroding confidence in the FCT real estate sector, both at home and abroad.
For Dr. Akpa, the demand remains unwavering: either the land be released as agreed or the $1.2 million refunded in full. With receipts now in circulation, videos of the confrontation trending, and public pressure mounting, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu faces what many are calling the biggest test of his integrity and accountability.
This is no longer a private quarrel. It is a public scandal — one that has placed Abuja’s entire real estate market under the harsh glare of scrutiny, while putting the credibility of a man who calls himself an evangelist on the line.
