Ohiri challenges Umahi: "Public must know source of Lekki, Enugu properties"

Published March 19, 2026 · updated 3 hours ago | By Sweep TV investigative desk

A high-stakes confrontation has erupted between businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri and the Minister of Works, David Umahi. Ohiri publicly demanded that the minister account for the source of wealth behind properties reportedly linked to him in Lekki, Enugu, and Ebonyi, while also detailing graphic allegations of sexual harassment, intimidation, and unpaid debts dating back to his tenure as Ebonyi State governor.

"If questions are asked of private individuals and investors, then public office holders must also be open to scrutiny regarding their assets and financial history. This is not about accusations — it is about accountability, fairness, and the trust Nigerians place in their leaders." — Tracy Ohiri

Ohiri, who narrated her experience publicly in Abuja, alleged that her business dealings with Umahi predated his election as governor. She claimed she was contracted to produce corporate gift items for campaigns, and despite several presentations and quotations, she was encouraged to proceed without mobilisation fees. She financed the project through personal savings and loans — including funds meant for her children's school fees.

Timeline of allegations

Pre-2015

Ohiri alleges she was contracted by Umahi (then gubernatorial candidate) to produce campaign promotional materials. She claims she submitted quotations and was assured of payment.

2015–2023

Ohiri states she made repeated trips to Ebonyi for business discussions. During one visit, she alleges Umahi entered her hotel room wearing only a towel and made sexual advances. She also claims the minister later labeled her a "fraud" and questioned her ability to attract $250 million FDI.

February 2026

Ohiri goes public with allegations, demanding transparency over Umahi's property portfolio in Lekki, Enugu, and Ebonyi. She questions how a public officer acquires such assets.

March 2026

Ohiri retracts the allegations in a video statement, citing family pressure and absence of written contract — but maintains questions over property sources remain.

Umahi's initial response: 'politically motivated'

When the allegations first surfaced in late February, Umahi dismissed them as politically motivated, joking that if the accuser were as "attractive as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan," he might have been "consoled." Speaking in Enugu after inspecting federal projects, he said: [citation:3]

"Don't insult your leaders because what a man soweth is what he reaps. People know me very well. I was a party chairman, Deputy Governor, and Governor for eight years, and nobody said I harassed anyone. What you read on social media doesn't worry me. It makes me stronger."

He added that the allegation was part of early political tactics ahead of 2027.

🏛️ The property question: Lekki, Enugu, Ebonyi

Ohiri's central demand — that the minister disclose the source of wealth behind his reported properties — ties into a wider pattern of scrutiny over Umahi's assets. The Winhomes Estate controversy in Lekki, where diaspora investors accused Umahi of diverting the coastal highway into their land without compensation, has kept the focus on land and property dealings involving the minister. [citation:1][citation:4]

In that separate dispute, Umahi questioned the validity of a claimed $250 million diaspora investment, asking: "If truly $250 million was invested, where is the proof? Who paid the money and through which bank? Nigerians deserve to know." [citation:1] Ohiri's challenge flips that question back to the minister: if private citizens must prove investment sources, should public officials not also account for their assets?

Parallel controversy: leaked video & journalist threat

Days before Ohiri's retraction, journalist Segun O'Law alleged that Umahi threatened him over a leaked recording from an August 2025 meeting. The recording reportedly captured the minister making statements about the Winhomes land dispute that contradicted his public stance. [citation:2]

O'Law claimed Umahi sent a WhatsApp message demanding a public apology, warning of legal consequences. Rights lawyer Dele Farotimi condemned the threat, citing press freedom protections.

Ohiri retracts allegations — but stands by property questions

On March 11, 2026, after two weeks of intense controversy, Tracy Ohiri issued a video retraction. [citation:6][citation:8][citation:10] She clarified:

Umahi did not threaten her with reprisal if she visited Ebonyi.
She never claimed the minister met her in a hotel room with a towel — aspects may have been "magnified or taken out of context."
There was no formally signed agreement for the alleged contract; materials may have been delivered to aides without Umahi's knowledge.

Ohiri apologised to Umahi, his family, and her own family for the embarrassment. However, she did not withdraw her demand for transparency regarding the source of the minister's Lekki, Enugu, and Ebonyi properties. Her lawyer later stated: "The retraction addresses only the personal interaction aspects. The broader question of asset declaration by public officials remains valid."

Context: 'I am the one' land admission

In a separate video, Umahi boasted about acquiring a woman's land after she resisted: "I didn't want to take the woman's remaining land, but when she started making troubles, I said they should go and acquire the land. I'm the one, not any other person else." [citation:5] While not directly linked to Ohiri, this statement fuels concerns about the minister's approach to property matters.

#UmahiProperties #Accountability

Winhomes diaspora investors vow to continue legal battle

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