Businesswoman Claims She Was Offered $70,000 to Withdraw Allegations Against Umahi

Businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri has claimed that she was pressured into retracting accusations against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, with the assurance of receiving $70,000 that she ultimately did not receive.

In a new video that has surfaced online, Ohiri accused a lawyer named Marshal Abubakar of coercing her to record a video outlining the retraction. She alleged that he assured her that Umahi had agreed to provide compensation prior to the video's release.

"Marshal, you provided me with a script... you forced me to create this video. You told me the individual was prepared to pay me for even the public humiliation I faced," she stated.

She further alleged that the agreement indicated she would receive her payment before the video went live, a condition that she claims was not met.

"You informed me that I was to receive my payment before the video’s release. Why was the video released without me receiving my payment?" she questioned.

Ohiri contended that she faced isolation and intimidation throughout the entire process.

"You ensured that I did not communicate with anyone… you continued to threaten me," she remarked, urging the Nigerian Bar Association to look into Abubakar’s actions, labeling them as unethical.

Previously, Ohiri accused Umahi of owing her approximately N250 million for promotional and printing services rendered during his 2015 campaign for governor in Ebonyi State. She alleged that this debt led to instances of sexual harassment and intimidation after she demanded her payment, claims which the minister has persistently denied.

Following her accusations, she was arrested in Lagos on charges relating to cyberbullying linked to her social media posts and was transferred to Abuja for detention at the FCT police command. Subsequently, she faced a defamation charge in a magistrate court in Wuse, where she was granted bail.

The issue gained significant public attention after activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore confronted Umahi at the police headquarters, denouncing what he described as the criminalization of a civil matter.

Umahi has categorically denied the allegations of indebtedness and the claims of sexual harassment, claiming that they are unfounded. "As party chairman, I owe no one… I oversaw both male and female staff, and no one has ever accused me of harassment," he asserted, adding, "What is being circulated on social media does not concern me… it's merely intended to generate buzz online."

Amid the unfolding drama, Ohiri released a video in which she seemed to retract her allegations and offered an apology to Umahi and his family, stating that the choice was made after engaging with her family, acquaintances, and legal advisors. In that footage, she mentioned that no formal agreement was documented between herself and the minister and suggested that anything she provided may have been utilized by his aides without his awareness.

Nevertheless, her recent remarks directly oppose that retraction, as she now claims it was made under coercion and connected to an unfulfilled promise of financial settlement.

In response, Abubakar took to Facebook to deny any allegations of coercion against Ohiri or withholding her payment, labeling her claims as untrue.

He explained that he had supported Ohiri during her arrest by rallying assistance, engaging activists, and aiding in securing her bail. He mentioned that attempts to mediate between her and Umahi were made, with the latter denying any debts owed.

"He insisted he did not owe her and would not pay unless she could substantiate the existence of a contract," Abubakar stated, adding that he did not discover any evidence supporting her claims during the mediation.

"There was no actual evidence of any contractual agreement… nor proof that the minister ever engaged her," he asserted.

Abubakar claimed Ohiri ultimately agreed to withdraw her allegations as part of the resolution efforts, maintaining that the $70,000 mentioned was introduced by a third party, Joseph Ekumankama, not as a recognition of liability, but rather as a peace facilitation attempt.

He refuted any financial benefit from this arrangement and accused Ohiri of later demanding a much higher amount.

"She threatened to tarnish my reputation online unless I met them to pay her N300 million," he revealed, stating that he is contemplating legal measures regarding the accusations made against him.