Umahi clears air after viral encounter with Sowore

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed allegations of using the Nigerian police force to solve his personal vendetta with businesswoman, Mrs. Tracy Ohiri.

The minister, in a statement issued on February 25, 2026, responded to a viral video circulated by rights activist Omoyele Sowore, detailing an encounter at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command headquarters.

According to the statement shared by the minister’s aide, Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, thevideo shared by Soworewas an attempt to “publicly confront and provoke” Umahi over a matter already before law enforcement authorities.

The statement states that the allegations referenced in the video were made by Mrs. Tracy Ohiri and have been in the public domain since last year.

The statement further added that the allegations of assault and unpaid campaign materials have been inconsistent and contradictory, adding that members of the public who followed the issue over time had observed the discrepancies.

Addressing the circumstances of the police appearance, the statement rejected suggestions that Umahi deployed law enforcement agencies to pursue a personal vendetta.

It stated that the Nigeria Police Force acted within its constitutional mandate after receiving a petition from the minister’s legal representative.

According to the statement, the petition led to the arrest of the complainant, while the minister was invited to make a statement as part of standard investigative procedure.

“The matter remains under police investigation, where facts will determine the outcome,” the statement said.

The minister’s media aide accused Sowore of attempting to dramatise what it described as a lawful investigative process.

The statement characterised the viral confrontation as a pattern of “performative activism” aimed at generating public attention rather than establishing factual clarity.

It added that Umahi declined to engage in what it termed theatrics and instead calmly disengaged from the situation.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, due process, and the rule of law.

He also stressed that he would not allow the controversy to distract him from his official duties, particularly the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across the country.