“Umahi Came to My Room in a Towel, Demanded Sex” — Businesswoman Accuses Works Minister of Harassment, Intimidation Over Alleged Unpaid Debt

A Nigerian businesswoman, Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of sexual harassment, intimidation and failure to pay for campaign materials she claims to have supplied before his election as Governor of Ebonyi State.

Ohiri spoke publicly in Abuja on Thursday, alleging that her business relationship with the minister began prior to his gubernatorial election. She said she was contracted to produce corporate gift items for campaign use after submitting presentations and quotations.

According to her, despite requesting mobilisation funds, she was asked to proceed with production. She said she financed the project through personal savings and loans, including money set aside for her children’s school fees.

Recounting one of her visits to Ebonyi State for business discussions, Ohiri alleged that the minister entered her hotel room wearing only a towel and made sexual advances toward her.

“He tied a towel around his waist and came into my room,” she said, adding that she left immediately and spent the night in a hotel staff member’s room.

She stated that the finished items were later delivered to the minister’s residence in the presence of family members and staff. The goods were transported by truck at her expense. She claims she was neither reimbursed for logistics nor paid for the supplies.

Ohiri said that after waiting one year and eight months following the election period, she began demanding payment of the initial N25.4 million debt. She alleges the amount has since risen to N304 million, including interest.

She further claimed that repeated requests for payment were followed by personal advances, which she rejected. According to her, this led to hostility and threatening messages.

Ohiri also alleged that after she threatened to stage a protest at the Government House over the unpaid debt, she received warnings against carrying out the plan. She said that following social media posts about the dispute — made after the death of her father, whom she had hoped to send abroad for medical treatment — security operatives arrested her at her residence and transported her to Abuja.

According to her, during a police interaction, the minister denied ever meeting her. She said she presented photographs and other materials to challenge that claim.

The police have arraigned Ohiri before a magistrate court in Abuja following a confrontation between the minister and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore at the FCT Police Command on February 25.

Supporters, led by Sowore, gathered at the court in solidarity with her, calling for due process in the handling of the case.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Umahi denied directing police officers to target the businesswoman. He described her allegations as inconsistent and said the police acted on a petition submitted by his lawyer, in line with established legal procedures.

The matter remains under police investigation.