NIGERIA: Businesswoman Tracy Ohiri Retracts Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Works Minister Dave Umahi

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Businesswoman Tracy Nicholas Ohiri has publicly retracted her earlier allegations of sexual harassment and unpaid contracts against Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, issuing a full apology in a video statement released on Wednesday.

In the message, Ohiri said the retraction followed “proper consultation with my family, friends and legal team, and a painstaking review of events of the past two weeks.”

She specifically denied claiming that Umahi met her in a hotel room wearing only a towel or threatened her with consequences similar to those allegedly faced by Neyland engineers.

“I admit that Engineer Dave Umahi… did not inform me that what happened to the Neyland engineers would happen to me if I visit Ebonyi state. I do not personally know the Neyland engineers beyond what I read online and heard from others,” she added.

Ohiri apologised to Umahi, his family, her own family, friends, and the public for any embarrassment caused. “I apologise if the allegations have been magnified and taken out of context,” she added.

She also clarified there was never a formally signed agreement regarding the alleged unpaid contracts, suggesting materials may have been used for campaign purposes without Umahi’s knowledge.

The retraction follows intense online debate sparked by Ohiri’s initial claims and a swift rebuttal from Umahi, who described the accusations as mischievous and politically motivated.

The minister had previously told supporters that no one under his leadership as Ebonyi State governor or APC chairman had ever accused him of harassment.

Ohiri urged the public to respect her family’s decision to move on from the matter. Neither Umahi nor his office has commented on the apology as of Thursday morning.

The development ends a brief but highly publicised controversy that drew widespread attention on social media and

in political circles.