Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A political and legal controversy involving Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, and businesswoman Tracy Nicolas Ohiri has taken a new turn after Ohiri publicly apologized over one of the most sensational claims she previously made against the former Ebonyi State governor. The apology follows weeks of intense public debate, viral social media videos and legal proceedings surrounding allegations that date back more than a decade.
The dispute first drew widespread national attention after Ohiri released a series of online videos accusing Umahi of refusing to pay her for campaign promotional materials she claimed to have supplied during his 2014 governorship bid in Ebonyi State. According to her account, the business relationship began when Umahi, who was then serving as deputy governor of the state, approached her to produce corporate gift items and campaign materials ahead of his gubernatorial campaign.
Ohiri said she ran a business that specialized in producing customized promotional items and had presented sample products to the politician during meetings in Ebonyi State. She alleged that Umahi encouraged her to proceed with production even though he had not provided any mobilization payment for the project.
According to her version of events, she went ahead to finance the production using her personal savings and borrowed funds, believing that she would be paid once the materials were delivered for the campaign. She said the promotional items were eventually transported to Umahi’s residence in Abakaliki using a hired truck and handed over to individuals associated with his campaign.
Ohiri claimed that the value of the contract at the time was approximately twenty-five million naira. Over the years, she alleged that the unpaid amount accumulated interest and financial losses, which she said increased the total sum she believed she was owed to hundreds of millions of naira.
The dispute escalated dramatically when Ohiri accused Umahi of making personal advances toward her while she was attempting to recover the money. In the videos that circulated widely online, she alleged that the politician had suggested a personal relationship instead of settling the alleged debt.
One of the most controversial aspects of her story was a claim that the politician once entered her hotel room wearing only a towel during a visit connected to their business discussions. That particular allegation quickly became the most widely shared element of the controversy and triggered strong reactions across Nigerian media and social networks.
Political commentators, activists and social media users debated the credibility of the accusations, while supporters and critics of the minister clashed over the implications of the claims.
Umahi strongly rejected the allegations from the outset. The minister described the accusations as false and politically motivated. He insisted that he had never demanded sexual favors from the businesswoman and denied owing her the amount she claimed.
He also questioned the figures she mentioned, arguing that the amount she alleged to be owed exceeded the total cost of his entire governorship campaign at the time. Umahi challenged the businesswoman to present documentary evidence such as signed contracts, invoices or financial records to support her claims.
The controversy eventually moved into the legal arena after a petition was filed against Ohiri. Law enforcement authorities arrested the businesswoman in Lagos before transferring her to Abuja, where she was arraigned before a magistrate court on allegations related to cyberbullying and defamation arising from statements she made about the minister online.
The court proceedings attracted significant public attention because of the dramatic nature of the accusations and the prominence of the individuals involved. During the hearing, Ohiri maintained that she had suffered severe financial hardship as a result of the alleged unpaid contract.
She told the court that she had invested her personal funds and taken loans to finance the production of campaign materials, believing that the politician would eventually honor the agreement after the election period.
The magistrate granted her bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties, allowing her to leave detention while the legal process continues.
Public reaction to the dispute remained divided. Some commentators argued that if the matter involved a genuine business transaction, it should be resolved through civil litigation rather than social media campaigns. Others insisted that allegations involving powerful political figures deserved careful scrutiny and transparent investigation.
Amid the intense public scrutiny, Ohiri issued a statement addressing one of the most controversial claims she had made earlier. In the statement, she clarified that Umahi never tied any wrapper or towel to meet her in a hotel room as she had previously alleged.
She expressed regret for the embarrassment the statement may have caused the minister and members of his family.
Her apology has been interpreted by observers as an attempt to correct the public record and de-escalate part of the controversy. However, the broader dispute concerning the alleged unpaid campaign materials remains unresolved.
Despite withdrawing the hotel-room allegation, Ohiri has continued in earlier statements to insist that she is still seeking payment for the promotional materials she claims to have supplied more than ten years ago.
Umahi, on his part, has maintained his position that the accusations are false and damaging to his reputation. The minister has repeatedly stated that he does not owe the businesswoman the amount she claims.
The episode has become one of the most widely discussed political controversies in Nigeria in recent weeks, illustrating how disputes between private individuals and public officials can escalate rapidly when amplified through social media and public commentary.
David Umahi remains one of the most prominent political figures from Nigeria’s South-East region. Before his appointment as Minister of Works in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he served two terms as governor of Ebonyi State after previously holding the position of deputy governor.
In his current role, he oversees major federal infrastructure projects across the country, including highway reconstruction and bridge rehabilitation efforts aimed at improving transportation networks.
With the apology now publicly issued and legal proceedings still ongoing, analysts believe the ultimate resolution of the dispute will depend on evidence presented in court regarding the alleged financial transaction and the claims made by both parties.
For now, the controversy continues to generate discussion within Nigeria’s political and legal circles as observers await further developments in the case.
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