A businesswoman, Mrs. Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of sexual harassment, intimidation and failure to pay for campaign promotional materials she claims to have supplied.
Ohiri made the allegations public in Abuja on Thursday, stating that her business relationship with Umahi began before his election as Governor of Ebonyi State. She said she was contracted to produce corporate gift items for campaign purposes after submitting presentations and quotations.
According to her, despite requesting mobilisation funds, she was asked to proceed with production. She claimed she financed the project with personal savings and loans, including money meant for her children’s school fees.
Ohiri further alleged that during a business trip to Ebonyi, Umahi entered her hotel room wearing only a towel and made advances toward her. “He tied a towel around his waist and came into my room, disturbing me,” she said, adding that she fled and spent the night in a staff member’s room.
She maintained that the items were later delivered to Umahi’s residence at her expense but that she was neither reimbursed for logistics nor paid for the goods. She said the original debt of N25.4 million has accumulated to N304 million with interest after nearly two years of non-payment.
Ohiri also alleged that after she repeatedly demanded payment and threatened to protest, she received threats and was later arrested by security operatives following a social media outcry over her claims.
The matter escalated on Wednesday when activist Omoyele Sowore confronted the minister at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. Ohiri was subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court in Abuja, where supporters gathered in solidarity.
In response, Umahi denied the allegations and rejected claims that he used the police to intimidate her. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister described her claims as inconsistent and said police actions followed a petition submitted by his lawyer.
The statement added that the Nigeria Police acted within its constitutional mandate to investigate complaints and that the matter remains under investigation, with facts expected to determine the outcome.
