Umahi Rejects Viral Allegations by Ohiri, Says Claims Only Make Him Stronger

Umahi Rejects Viral Allegations by Ohiri, Says Claims Only Make Him Stronger

Abakaliki / Abuja — March 1, 2026

Minister of Works David Umahi has rejected allegations made against him by businesswoman TracyNither Ohiri, calling them baseless, politically motivated, and misleading, while asserting that the attention has only strengthened his resolve.

The controversy erupted after Ohiri claimed on social media that Umahi owed her N250 million for promotional materials allegedly supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign. She also accused him of attempting to seduce her, including claims of visiting her hotel room under suspicious circumstances.

Addressing the claims during an inspection tour of major federal infrastructure projects in the South East, Umahi dismissed them as implausible and mischievous, pointing to his decades-long public service record. A statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, quoted the minister saying:

“I have fought tougher battles before. I was deputy governor and governor for eight years, and I did fantastically in infrastructure. So nobody could claim I owe them unless they are being mischievous. The social media stories make me stronger.”

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Umahi emphasized that no individual has ever accused him of harassment or financial misconduct during his tenure as governor or party chairman. He described the viral claims as attempts to hype social media, joking about their implausibility and stating that anyone making such allegations would have to be “the Queen of England” to be believed.

Civil society groups have weighed in, with the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) criticizing the social media claims as politically motivated and highlighting the absence of verifiable evidence, including contracts or receipts. The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, similarly rejected the allegations, calling them unsubstantiated and damaging to Umahi’s reputation.

Political commentators also highlighted the role of social media in amplifying disputes, with former presidential aide Reuben Abati noting that certain details of Ohiri’s claims, including the alleged hotel encounter, were inconsistent and implausible, given that she was a married woman at the time.

The matter has also entered the legal arena, with Ohiri reportedly facing defamation charges in an Abuja magistrate court over her circulating videos. At the same time, prominent voices like Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have urged calm and respect for due process, emphasizing that allegations should be addressed through formal legal channels rather than social media hysteria.

As the debate unfolds, Umahi continues to focus on his ministerial duties, overseeing key national infrastructure projects, while defending his reputation and calling on Nigerians to prioritize development, governance, and accountability over unverified social media claims.

Umahi Rejects Viral Allegations by Ohiri, Says Claims Only Make Him Stronger