A Nigerian businesswoman who previously made allegations of sexual impropriety against Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has publicly apologised in a video now circulating widely on social media.
The woman, identified as Tracy Ohiri, had earlier accused the minister of also owing her millions of naira and asking for sexual favours before paying the money
The claims gained traction across social media platforms and triggered heated debate among Nigerians.
Ohiri apologises to David Umahi
In the new video, Ohiri apologised to the minister and his family for the embarrassment the allegations may have caused.
She clarified that some of the widely circulated claims attributed to her were either exaggerated or taken out of context.
In particular, she denied making one of the most sensational claims that had gone viral — that the minister met her in a hotel room while wrapped in a towel.
“I never said Engineer David Umahi tied a towel to meet me in a hotel room,” she said in the video while offering an apology for the controversy that followed the earlier accusations.
According to her, after discussions with her legal advisers, family members and associates, she decided to withdraw from the dispute and move on with her life and business.
How the controversy began
The controversy began when Ohiri publicly accused Umahi of wrongdoing connected to their interactions, including claims relating to unpaid money and alleged inappropriate behaviour.
The allegations were circulated widely on social media and were discussed by commentators and online influencers, drawing public attention to the matter.
At the height of the dispute, videos and posts containing the allegations spread rapidly online, with supporters and critics of the minister trading accusations and counter-accusations.
Umahi, who previously served as governor of Ebonyi State before becoming Minister of Works in 2023, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the allegations against him were false.
Another accuser also retracts claim
In a related development, another individual, identified as Chief Obinna Ude Nkama, also issued a separate public apology after earlier claiming that the minister owed him ₦7 million for a job he allegedly executed.
In a video statement, Nkama admitted that his earlier claim was made “out of frustration” and acknowledged that he had no contractual relationship with the minister. He subsequently apologised for making what he described as a damaging allegation.
Reactions online
The apology video by Ohiri has continued to generate strong reactions across social media, with many Nigerians expressing mixed views.
While some believe the apology brings closure to the matter, others have questioned the circumstances surrounding the sudden retraction of the allegations.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the minister nor his official spokesperson had issued a fresh statement specifically responding to the latest apology video.
See the video here.
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