“I was given a script, coerced, and promised $70,000 to retract claims against Umahi” — Businesswoman Ohiri alleges

A businesswoman, Tracy Ohiri, has alleged that she was pressured to withdraw her earlier claims against David Umahi, saying she was promised financial compensation that was not paid before a recorded retraction was made public.

In a new video, Ohiri said a lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, instructed her to record the retraction and indicated that an agreement had been reached for her to be paid. She alleged that the payment was meant to be completed before the video was released, but that this did not happen.

She described the video as prepared in advance, claiming she was given specific wording to follow and was not acting freely at the time of recording. She also questioned the timing of the publication of the footage relative to the alleged payment.

Ohiri further alleged that she was discouraged from discussing the matter with others and that she faced threats during the process. She has called for an investigation by the Nigerian Bar Association into the conduct of the lawyer involved.

She also shared recordings of phone conversations she said were linked to the arrangement, and indicated that additional material may be released.

The latest claims come after an earlier dispute in which Ohiri accused Umahi of sexual harassment and of owing her approximately ₦250 million for services related to his 2015 governorship campaign in Ebonyi State. She also alleged that her attempts to recover the money led to threats and legal action against her, including arrest and detention over cyberbullying-related allegations tied to her social media posts.

Following her arrest in Lagos, she was transferred to Abuja, where she was arraigned on defamation charges and granted bail. The case drew wider attention after activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore publicly challenged Umahi at the police headquarters over what he described as the handling of the dispute.

Umahi has denied both the harassment and debt allegations, stating that no such obligation exists and that his record in public office supports his position. He has previously dismissed the controversy as social media-driven and not grounded in fact.

Amid the dispute, Ohiri had earlier released a video retracting her allegations and apologising to Umahi and his family, saying the decision followed consultations with her advisers. In that retraction, she also suggested there was no formal written agreement governing the alleged services.

In response to the latest allegations, Abubakar has denied coercing Ohiri or withholding any payment. He said he participated in mediation efforts between both parties and maintained that Umahi’s position remained that no debt existed without a verified contract.

Abubakar stated that funds provided during the process were contributed by a third party to support reconciliation efforts and not as an admission of liability. He also rejected claims that he benefited personally and suggested that Ohiri later demanded additional sums beyond what was discussed. He indicated that he may pursue legal action over the allegations made against him.