The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has publicly responded to the escalating controversy involving businesswoman Tracy Nicholas Ohiri and human rights lawyer Marshall Abubakar, dismissing all allegations against him as unfounded, distancing himself entirely from the $70,000 payment at the centre of the dispute, and announcing that he has directed his legal team to initiate formal court proceedings to establish the truth.
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Speaking through his media aide, Francis Nwaze, Umahi maintained that he neither authorised any payment to Ohiri nor directed any form of negotiation on his behalf, insisting that Abubakar acted independently out of a genuine desire to help the businesswoman resolve the matter peacefully.
The minister’s intervention represents his most comprehensive response since the dispute erupted and signals a decisive shift from public statements to formal litigation.
At the heart of Umahi’s response is a categorical denial that the $70,000 paid to Ohiri through Barrister Joseph Ekumankama, a former minister and associate of Umahi, was made on the minister’s behalf or with his authorisation.
“At no point did the lawyer negotiate or discuss any form of payment on behalf of the minister,” the statement through Nwaze read.
Umahi’s position is that some individuals, described as associates and well-meaning Nigerians, voluntarily approached Abubakar with the intention of offering assistance to Ohiri. The minister characterised this as an independent humanitarian gesture, not compensation, admission of liability, or settlement of any claim.
This account is consistent with what Abubakar himself had previously stated — that Barrister Ekumankama provided the $70,000 as a gesture for peace and not as an acknowledgment of any debt. However, it directly contradicts Ohiri’s narrative that the payment was linked to a settlement agreement facilitated by Abubakar on the minister’s behalf.
Umahi outlined the two conditions he had set for addressing the matter: either full resolution through the courts or the provision of verifiable evidence by Ohiri to support her original claims, particularly documented communications between herself and the minister.
The minister noted that neither condition had been met. Ohiri has repeatedly acknowledged on record that there was no written contract between her and Umahi, no formal engagement letter, and no documentary evidence of delivery of goods directly to the minister. She has also been unable to produce the communications challenge set by Umahi — evidence of any conversation between them before 2023 — despite Umahi’s public offer to pay N1 billion if she could do so.
“Since these conditions were not met, particularly the demand for credible proof, Umahi has directed his legal team to initiate formal court proceedings to thoroughly examine the issues and establish the truth,” the statement read.
The dispute originated when Ohiri publicly accused Umahi of owing her approximately N250 million for promotional items she claimed to have supplied for political campaign purposes during his tenure as Ebonyi State Governor. She further alleged that the minister used the police to harass and detain her after she rejected his alleged sexual advances.
The accusations went viral on social media, drawing support from activists including Marshall Abubakar, Senator Ireti Kingibe, VeryDarkMan, Omoyele Sowore, and others who rallied to her cause and secured her bail when she was reportedly facing remand.
Umahi denied all allegations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated, and emphasised that no accusations of harassment had ever been made against him during his years in public office.
In March 2026, Ohiri issued a public retraction and apology video, withdrawing all her allegations. She acknowledged there was no formal contract, clarified that she never stated the minister attempted to meet her in a hotel room as some claims suggested, and apologised for any embarrassment caused.
However, within 24 hours, Ohiri released a new video accusing Abubakar of coercing her into recording the apology, claiming she was promised full payment before the video was released but was instead deceived. She called on the NBA to investigate Abubakar’s conduct.
Abubakar responded with a detailed rebuttal, revealing that his review of the case found no evidence whatsoever — no contract, no proof of engagement, no evidence of delivery, and no substantiation of the harassment claims. He disclosed the $70,000 payment and alleged that Ohiri later demanded N300 million, threatening to launch an online campaign against him when he could not secure the amount.
Social media activist VeryDarkMan weighed in with his own detailed video accusing Ohiri of greed, alleging she collected the $70,000 on March 12 and kept quiet for six days before turning on Abubakar after seeing larger sums recovered in an unrelated case. Ohiri fired back calling VeryDarkMan “a big liar” and “a political tool.”
Senior lawyers also raised concerns about potential anti-money laundering violations if the $70,000 was paid in physical cash rather than through banking channels, noting that the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 places strict limits on cash transactions.
By directing his legal team to file suit, Umahi is signalling his intent to have the matter resolved definitively through the judicial process rather than through social media exchanges and public statements.
The court proceedings would likely require Ohiri to produce under oath whatever evidence she claims to have, submit to cross-examination, and substantiate her allegations through admissible documentary and testimonial proof. Given her repeated public admissions that no written contract exists and her inability to produce the minister’s aide who allegedly received the goods, the evidentiary burden she would face in court is considerable.
Umahi had previously indicated he would pursue the full judicial process and pay Ohiri tenfold if any court ruled he owed her. His decision to now proceed with formal litigation suggests he is confident in his legal position.
The matter now faces potential proceedings on multiple fronts. Umahi is pursuing court action against Ohiri to establish the truth of the original allegations. Abubakar has threatened legal action against Ohiri for what he described as falsehoods and blackmail. Ohiri has petitioned the NBA to investigate Abubakar’s conduct. Senior lawyers have raised anti-money laundering concerns about the cash payment. And Umahi reportedly has existing cases against Ohiri in Ebonyi State related to defamation.
As the saga continues to play out on social media with viral videos, accusations, and counter-accusations, all parties maintain their positions.
Umahi insists he owes Ohiri nothing, never engaged her for any contract, and never harassed her. Abubakar insists he acted as a mediator in good faith, found no evidence to support Ohiri’s claims, and secured the best outcome possible under the circumstances. VeryDarkMan maintains that Ohiri is driven by greed and that her campaign against Abubakar was triggered by envy over larger recoveries in other cases.
Ohiri continues to insist she supplied goods for the minister’s campaigns, that she was coerced into the apology, and that the $70,000 was inadequate. She has offered to return the payment but has not done so as of the time of this report.
The matter now appears headed to court, where evidence rather than social media narratives will determine the outcome.
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