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Lady Tracy Ohiri recants ₦200m debt, harassment allegations against Umahi
In a new video statement released on social media, Ohiri said she reached the decision after consulting with her family, friends and legal team and reviewing the events surrounding the controversy.
“Good day, Nigerians. After proper consultation with my family, friends and legal team, and a pain-taking review of events of the past weeks, I have come to the conclusion that it’s important we give peace a chance,” she said.
Ohiri had earlier alleged that the former governor of Ebonyi State owed her about ₦200 million for promotional materials she claimed to have supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign. She had also alleged that during a meeting in a hotel, the minister entered her room wearing only a towel and made advances toward her.
However, in the latest statement, she said the minister did not threaten her in relation to visiting Ebonyi State and apologised for the controversy the allegations may have caused.
“I admit that Engineer Deacon David Umahi, the former Governor of the Ebonyi State, and the current Minister of Works, did not inform me that what happened to the Neyland Engineers would happen to me if I visit Ebonyi State.
“I do not know the Neyland Engineers, except what I read about them on the internet, and what I heard from people. I apologize to Engineer Deacon David Umahi for the embarrassment this allegation may have caused him and his family.”
She added that she was sorry to those who may have been affected by the situation.
“I sincerely apologize to his family, to my own family, friends, and everyone who felt hurt and embarrassed with what happened,” she said.
Ohiri also addressed the allegation that Umahi met her in a hotel room wearing a towel, stating that she never made such a claim.
“I never said Engineer Deacon David Umahi tied a towel to meet me in a hotel room. I apologize if the allegations have been magnified and taken out of context,” she said.
On the issue of the alleged contract, she admitted that there was no formal agreement between them.
“On the issue of the contract, I admit there was no formally signed agreement between Deacon David Umahi and I. Although the job was done and delivered to his aides, they might have used the material for campaign purposes without informing him, and without him knowing about it,” she adde
She concluded by saying that her family has decided to move on from the matter.
“My family and I have decided to move on and face our lives and business, and we want everyone to respect this decision,” she said.
The controversy had generated widespread reactions online in recent weeks after Ohiri publicly accused the minister of owing her money and making inappropriate advances, allegations which Umahi consistently denied.
The Works Minister had strongly debunked allegations linking him to sexual harassment and financial misconduct, including claims that he owed the businesswoman, Ohiri, N200 million.
Umahi insisted that he cannot be “bullied” on social media.
Responding to the allegations while fielding questions from journalists after inspecting the progress of work on the Onitsha–Awka–Enugu Expressway on Saturday, February 28,2026, Umahi said no amount of distraction would stop him from serving God, President Bola Tinubu, and Nigerians.
He described the allegations as “distractions” by individuals jealous of his performance and insistence on quality work, adding that the matter is already in court.
The minister challenged those behind the allegations to be ready to prove their claims in court.
He said, “I cannot be bullied on social media. If you are paid to insult me on social media, it won’t shut my mouth. I am not distracted at all. Everyone who knows me knows that I am David and not afraid of anything.
“Some people have asked me… okay, let’s settle. What are we settling? You don’t place something on nothing. If you want to woo me, you have to do that properly.
“I am a very handsome man with a very good brain. You don’t go by the side looking for me.
“Meanwhile, the matter is in court. Whether you insult or praise me, I don’t want to know. All I know is that if you allege, you must prove it in court.
“We are not distracted from our work. We know we are engaged in a series of wars because contracts are no longer business as usual. We’re not unaware of that.
“So, wherever the fight is coming from, we are ready. But we won’t bend the standard. We will fulfil the calling of God Almighty, the people and Mr President.”
With the new development, it could not be confirmed by press time if the Minister will continue with the case he filed in court against his accuser.
Umahi debunks sexual harassment, N200m debt claims
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that there are two main reasons a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is being detained by the commission.
It also revealed that legal action was taken against the Enugu-born politician after he failed to honour several invitations extended to him through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, and dated 15 May 2026.
John Odey, the spokesman of the commission in a statement on Wednesday explained that the commission later approached Federal High Court, Abuja Division, with the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026) in order to effect Nnaji’s arrest after his failure to honour invitation.
Nnaji was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, when he boarded a private jet to Abuja.
Corroborating the development, the ICPC spokesman said Nnaji’s arrest was effected at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival where he was led to the commission’s custody immediately.
According to him, Nnaji is being probed on forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
The statement read, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (M), following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji’s arrival.
“He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
“The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated 15 May 2026.
“The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address.
“Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.
“The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026).
“The order, issued on 11 June 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation into allegations bordering on:
“Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); and “False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
“Following the arrest, Mr. Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations are expected to continue. The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.”
The immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.
Authoritative sources at the airport confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES, saying Mr Nnaji would be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
The reported arrest comes weeks after the Federal High Court reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and investigate Nnaji over the allegations.
The court also authorised the anti-graft agency to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning.
According to the ICPC, its application to the court followed Nnaji’s alleged refusal to appear before investigators despite several invitations relating to the forgery allegations.
The case stems from a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged University of Nigeria degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The report alleged that the documents were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service.
According to the publication, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria did not issue him the degree certificate in question, a development the newspaper said corroborated its investigation.Newspapers
The former minister had previously denied the existence of the court order authorising his arrest, dismissing the publication as a “media trial.”
However, on June 18, he reportedly filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the arrest order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the reported arrest, while Nnaji’s legal team had yet to publicly respond to the latest development.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restored the bail it had earlier granted to activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore is facing a two-count cybercrime charge filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post.
Trial Justice Muhammed Umar, who had earlier granted the defendant bail on self-recognisance, on June 16 revoked the bail and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The order came after Sowore failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial, even though he wrote a letter explaining his absence and requesting a new date.
When proceedings resumed in the case on June 22, Justice Umar ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison.
Dissatisfied with the actions the court took against him, Sowore—whose legal team had initially withdrawn from the case over alleged bias by the judge—secured a new lawyer, who promptly filed a motion to restore his bail and quash the arrest warrant.
When the case came up on Tuesday, Justice Umar held that he was minded to admit the defendant to bail.
However, the court listed some conditions that had to be met before he would be released from prison custody.
Aside from granting him bail to the tune of N200 million, the court held that the defendant must produce two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport.
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Sowore, in the application he anchored on Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 66 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, insisted that the orders the court made against him were unjust and unwarranted.
The defendant had, on December 2, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The charges allege offences under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The offending posts, made on August 25, 2025, were in response to President Tinubu’s claim, made in Brazil, that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
Angered by the posts, the DSS demanded that X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. ban Sowore’s accounts and remove the posts.
The security agency also wrote to Sowore, asking him to delete the posts from all platforms.
Non-compliance with the request led to the charges.
The prosecution claims the defamatory posts were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish the president’s reputation.
Exhibits include printouts of the posts and the DSS letters.
X Inc. and Meta were initially co-defendants but were delisted in the amended charge.
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