Woman Accuses Works Minister of Sexual Harassment, N304m Debt

Woman Accuses Works Minister of Sexual Harassment, N304m Debt

A businesswoman, Mrs. Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, has levelled allegations against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, accusing him of sexual harassment, intimidation and failure to settle payments for campaign materials she claims to have supplied.

Ohiri, who spoke in Abuja, alleged that her professional relationship with the former Ebonyi State governor began prior to his election.

According to her, she was engaged to produce branded corporate gift items for campaign activities after submitting proposals and cost estimates.

She said that although she requested mobilisation funds before commencing production, she was persuaded to proceed without advance payment.

To finance the contract, she claimed she relied on personal savings and loans, including funds earmarked for her children’s school fees.

The businesswoman further alleged that during a trip to Ebonyi State for discussions related to the contract, the minister visited her hotel room clad only in a towel and allegedly made inappropriate advances. She said she quickly left the room and sought refuge with a hotel staff member for the night.

Ohiri maintained that she completed the production of the items and arranged delivery to the minister’s residence at her own expense. However, she alleged that she was neither reimbursed for logistics nor paid for the goods supplied.

After waiting for one year and eight months, she said she began pressing for payment of what she described as an initial N25.4 million debt. According to her, accumulated interest has since pushed the claim to N304 million.

She also alleged that her repeated demands for payment were met with further personal advances, which she said she rejected. Ohiri claimed she later received threats after indicating plans to publicly protest over the unpaid sum.

The controversy gained wider attention following a confrontation between the minister and activist Omoyele Sowore at the FCT Police Command on February 25, 2026.

Ohiri was subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court in Abuja, where she was granted bail. Meanwhile, civil society activists have rallied in her support, calling for an impartial investigation into the allegations.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the minister regarding the claims.