Minister Umahi Rocked By Sex-For-Pay N250m With Female Contractor
Minister of Works, David Umahi, is facing accusations of withholding the payment of a woman contractor, Ms Tracy Nither Nicolas Ohiri, after she refused to his request for sex.
However, Umahi denied the allegation in a statement.
Taking up the case in a viral video, on Wednesday, former Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore, alleged that the Nigeria Police Force facilitated the harassment of the woman who had accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of owing her N250 million.
In the long-running case, Ohiri accused Umahi of demanding sex and her refusal led to her current travails.
In a statement, Activist and SaharaReporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore, claimed he confronted Umahi at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Abuja, where the Minister was allegedly present during the detention of the woman, identified as Tracy Nither Nicolas Ohiri.
According to Sowore, Ohiri was arrested in Lagos over allegations of cyberbullying, transferred to Abuja, and detained.
He said her alleged offence stemmed from claims that Umahi had owed her N250 million for over 12 years, a matter he described as a civil dispute rather than a criminal issue.
Sowore alleged that instead of treating the matter as a civil case, the police escalated it and allowed Umahi into the command facility, where he purportedly threatened and intimidated the woman during what he described as an “interview.”
He further claimed that the session was abruptly ended when he and others arrived at the command, after which Umahi allegedly left the premises visibly upset.
Sowore also alleged that following the Minister’s departure, police authorities refused to grant the woman bail.
He claimed that Umahi made remarks suggesting she “had not seen anything yet” as he exited the command.
In a statement by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Umahi responded to the viral video circulated by activist Omoyele Sowore, that detailed the encounter at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command headquarters, on Tuesday.
The statement issued on February 25, 2026, said the video shared by Sowore sought to “publicly confront and provoke” Umahi over a matter already before the appropriate authorities.
According to the statement, the allegations referenced in the video were made by one Mrs. Tracy Ohiri and have been in the public domain since last year.
The claims, which include alleged assault and unpaid campaign materials, were said to have been circulated repeatedly through social media videos and posts.
The statement said the allegations have been inconsistent and contradictory, adding that this had been widely observed by members of the public who followed the issue over time.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding the police appearance, the statement rejected suggestions that the minister deployed law enforcement to pursue a personal matter.
It said the Nigeria Police Force acted within its constitutional mandate after receiving a petition from the minister’s lawyer, leading to the arrest of the complainant and the subsequent invitation of the minister to make a statement as part of a standard investigative procedure.
He accused Sowore of attempting to “dramatize” the lawful process by creating a public spectacle, describing it as a pattern of “performative activism” aimed at attracting attention rather than establishing facts.
“The matter remains under police investigation, where facts will determine the outcome,” the statement said.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, due process, and the rule of law, stressing that he would not be distracted from his responsibilities, including the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across the country.
David Nweze Umahi CON (born 25 July 1963) is a Nigerian politician who serves as the Minister of works of Nigeria.
He previously served as the Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District from June to August 2023, and as the Governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023; and Deputy Governor from 2011 to 2015.
