\n\nLagos, Nigeria — Businesswoman Tracy Nicolas Ohiri has spoken out again in the ongoing dispute with Senator David Umahi, the Minister of Works, saying she never accused him of rape despite widespread social media talk. Ohiri’s statement came in a video shared by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, where she explained her side of the story.
Ohiri had previously alleged that Umahi refused to pay her ₦250 million for promotional materials her company supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign in Ebonyi State — a claim both the minister and his team have denied.
In the video, Ohiri said: “I did not say he slept with me, I didn’t say he raped me. I only said he asked me that he wanted to take good care of me after he became governor. I said ‘No sir, I am a member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, I don’t sleep with married men.’”
She added that after she declined his suggestion for a relationship, saying she only wanted her money, the situation turned sour. “So when he continued, I said, ‘Sir, with due respect can you just pay me and forget about this dating thing?’ He became angry,” she said.
The video has stirred reactions online because Ohiri’s explanation clarifies what she said and what she did not say about the former Ebonyi governor. Many people had misunderstood or exaggerated the claims widely shared on social media.
The dispute escalated last week when Ohiri was arrested and arraigned by police officers after she publicly repeated her claims about the unpaid debt. She faced a charge of defamation and was granted bail by a magistrate court in Abuja, though there were reports of difficulties in processing her release.
Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has been vocal in defending Ohiri’s rights, accusing the police of unfair treatment and saying the matter should have been handled as a civil dispute rather than a criminal case.
Meanwhile, Umahi’s aides and several civil society groups have denied any wrongdoing by the minister, saying the allegations are inconsistent and lack proof. They have urged people to let law enforcement complete its investigation.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Ohiri’s latest video has brought clarity to what she actually claimed, drawing the focus back to her quest for payment rather than allegations of sexual misconduct.
