Umahi to Ohiri: Prove N280m debt, get N1bn reward

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed his legal team to commence court action against businesswoman Tracy Ohiri over renewed allegations that he owes her N280 million for campaign materials.

Ohiri had earlier taken to social media alleging that Umahi was indebted to her for materials supplied during his time as a party chairman.

Her claims, which went viral, also included accusations of sexual harassment against the minister.

Following her arrest and prosecution, her lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, intervened in the matter, leading to the deletion of the posts and a public apology in which she withdrew the allegations.

However, the controversy resurfaced days later after Ohiri released a new video, claiming she was coerced into retracting her statements and was promised payment that never materialised.

She further alleged that her lawyer pressured her into issuing the retraction.

Responding through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaz, the minister dismissed the claims and maintained that due process must be followed.

According to the statement, Umahi had earlier outlined two conditions for resolving the dispute, either the matter should be settled in court or Ohiri should provide verifiable evidence, including all relevant communications, to substantiate her allegations.

The minister also stated that while he never negotiated any payment, some associates had indicated willingness to raise up to N1 billion if credible evidence was presented, a condition he said remains unmet.

“Following the failure to meet the stated conditions, particularly the inability to provide credible and verifiable evidence, the Minister has directed his legal team to proceed with all court processes to ensure that the truth is fully established,” the statement read.

Umahi defended the role of Abubakar, describing his intervention as being in good faith and driven by a desire to resolve the matter amicably, while insisting that no financial agreement was reached during the process.

The minister further noted that he had exercised restraint in the face of earlier allegations but was now compelled to seek legal redress to protect his reputation and establish the facts.

He reaffirmed his commitment to his duties, stating that he would not be distracted by the controversy and would remain focused on delivering infrastructure projects and advancing national development.

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