The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has vehemently denied accusations of owing a businesswoman, Tracynither Ohiri, a sum of N200 million for promotional materials supplied during his 2014 gubernatorial campaign. Speaking to journalists on Thursday during a site tour of the Independence Bridge in Lagos, Umahi refuted the allegations, labelling them as baseless.
Umahi questioned the validity of the claim, stating, “When I left office and became a minister, she started circulating stories that I owed her N200 million from 2014. The entire cost of my 2014 gubernatorial election campaign didn’t even amount to N100 million. So, how could campaign materials alone cost N200 million?”
The minister further challenged Ohiri to provide concrete evidence, including a signed contract, proof of funds withdrawn, and relevant bank statements to substantiate her claims. “Where is the contract? Where is the evidence of funds withdrawn? Can you show your bank account statements where these funds were taken from?” Umahi demanded.
He also expressed skepticism about Ohiri’s intentions, suggesting that she may be being manipulated by external forces. “I suspect she is being sponsored. I have seen the same thing happen to three other governors before. Initially, I thought it might be a mental issue, so I didn’t pay much attention, but now I believe some individuals who have been criticising me for alleged property destruction are behind this,” he said.
Umahi confirmed that legal action was imminent, as he has instructed his lawyers to initiate proceedings against Ohiri for defamation, seeking appropriate damages.
Regarding the sexual harassment allegation, the minister categorically denied any such incident, stressing the gravity of such claims. He expressed concern over the potential misuse of sexual harassment accusations, which he described as increasingly being used by individuals with ulterior motives.
Umahi advised women to rise above false allegations, which he deemed a growing and unfortunate trend. “We will use this case to set a precedent and send a strong message,” he added.
This development comes amid a rising wave of legal battles and protests involving political figures and allegations of misconduct.
