VIDEO: Drama as Sowore confronts Umahi at Police HQ over ₦250m debt accusation by detained woman
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A dramatic confrontation unfolded at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday when Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, came face-to-face with his accuser, Tracynither Nicolas Ohiri, over her claim that he borrowed ₦250 million from her more than 12 years ago and refused to repay it. She is currently detained and faces charges of cyberbullying the minister with allegations that also include claims he solicited sexual favours.
A video of the incident, apparently filmed in a meeting room, was posted by activist Omoyele Sowore on his X account. According to Sowore, the encounter took place inside the conference hall of the Force Headquarters. In the footage, Umahi’s accuser is seen charging toward him but is restrained by people nearby.
Umahi then made an attempt to leave, but Sowore called out, “Minister,” prompting him to turn back and shake hands with Sowore. Sowore told him he should not use policemen to settle personal scores. The minister’s aides quickly intervened and whisked him away.
In his X post describing what transpired, Sowore wrote: “Today at the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, I confronted the Minister of Works, David Umahi inside a conference room where police operatives had effectively set up shop for him to harass a woman who accused him of owing her and making a pass at her years ago.
“A married woman, TracyNither Nicolas Ohiri had been illegally arrested in Lagos on allegations of “cyberbullying,” flown to Abuja, and detained. Her alleged offense was accusing David Umahi of owing her N250 million for over 12 years, a claim that, at its core, is a civil dispute.
“Rather than treat the matter as such, the police escalated it into a criminal spectacle. After unlawfully detaining her, the police facilitated a meeting in which Umahi was brought into the command to threaten, intimidate, and denigrate her inside a police facility until we arrived and they immediately dismantled the “interview” and Umahi left, angry.
“After Umahi left, they refused to grant her bail or release her. We later learnt Umahi promised that she has not seen anything on his way out of the FCT police command.”
