‘If Anything Happens To Me, Hold Umahi Responsible’— Objectv Media Director Segun O’Law Alleges Threat From Works Minister Over Coastal Road Dispute Video

Ikeja, Lagos State– The Media Director of Objectv Media, Segun O’Law, has expressed concerns over alleged threats to his life, declaring that if anything happens to him, Nigerians and the international community should hold Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, responsible.

O’Law made the declaration during a press conference on Thursday, where he narrated how the minister allegedly sent him a threatening WhatsApp message after a controversial video recording from a private meeting surfaced in connection with the disputed realignment of the Lagos section of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

The journalist said the message came from a number later verified to belong to the minister.

The Media Director of Objectv Media, Segun O’Law, has cried out that if anything happens to him, Nigerians and international communities should look no further than Engr. David Nweze Umahi, the Minister of Works, who has declared himself ‘a dangerous man.

According to O’Law, the message was sent on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

“On the morning of Sunday 8th March, 2026, I received a WhatsApp message from a number that was not saved in my contacts. The person later introduced himself as the HMW (Honourable Minister of Works) after I asked the sender to identify himself,” he explained.

He said the message began with a link to a TikTok video.

“His message started with a link to a TikTok video, which he asked me to go and watch. The video featured a content creator referencing another lawyer who claimed that the first person to have gone to jail in Nigeria in this year 2026 was someone who shared a private conversation with a third party. The creator warned viewers against sharing private conversations without consent.”

O’Law said immediately after sending the link, the sender wrote a message he interpreted as a threat.

“Immediately after sending the link, the sender wrote the following: ‘U came to my office and secretly videoed our conversations and shared. U have no right to do that with all the respect I gave to u. I thought that by now u would have repented and publicly apologize to me. U have not done that. I still give u opportunities to do so on my terms but if u don’t, then.’”

He said he responded politely, unsure at first who was contacting him.

“I responded politely: ‘Good morning and happy Sunday! I don’t have this number but if this is the Minister, Engr. Dave Umahi, I since asked for your number from Engr. Dare in Lagos but I understand he pleaded that it was sensitive for him to release your number to me. I’m open to conversation when you’re available sir.’”

According to him, the sender replied: “This is HMW and I will not do any conversation with you other than my request above.”

O’Law said he later conducted verification of the phone number and confirmed that it belonged to the Minister of Works.

“Given the Minister’s history of controversial actions and seriousness of the message, I considered it necessary to put this out in the public for reasons of public knowledge and personal safety,” he said.

The journalist said he believed the message was intended to pressure him to withdraw or denounce a discreet video recording that allegedly captured the minister making controversial statements during a meeting with protest representatives.

“I perceive that message as a threat to make me bend, withdraw and denounce the video in a bid to water down or cover the truth exposed by the discreet video of him confessing to have used his office to pursue personal vendetta against the CEO of WinHomes, Mrs. Stella Ukengu,” he said.

According to him, the dispute stemmed from the controversial realignment of the Lagos section of the coastal highway project, which affected properties along the corridor, including land belonging to the WinHomes estate.

O’Law recounted that in August 2025, protesters gathered at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja to protest the realignment of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project.

“In August 2025, protesters gathered at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja to protest the controversial realignment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road at the Lagos section, which displaced many legally settled communities and developments along the corridor,” he said.

He said the protest highlighted the situation of WinHomes Estate, whose CEO had publicly challenged the minister’s justification for the realignment.

“The CEO had rejected the claim that the realignment was due to marine cables along the original alignment and demanded proper compensation for affected developments,” he said.

O’Law explained that tensions escalated during the protest when security officers confronted demonstrators.

“Based on my experience as a journalist who had covered protests that degenerated into violence in the past, where journalists’ equipment were seized or destroyed, I activated my discreet recording gadget so as to preserve evidence in case the situation deteriorated.”

According to him, the protesters later nominated three representatives to meet the minister.

“Three of us were selected: Comrade Shina Loremikan for the civil society, Barrister Ahmad for WinHomes, and myself as a journalist to observe the engagement.”

O’Law alleged that during the meeting, the minister made startling remarks.

“During the meeting, the Minister’s first utterance was to brag: ‘I’m a dangerous man.’”

He claimed the minister went further to reveal that he had personally ensured that land belonging to the WinHomes CEO would not be restored.

“He said he had decided that the remaining land would also be acquired and that the location was where he intended to put a toll gate,” O’Law said.

According to him, after further discussions, the minister suggested that the WinHomes CEO bring some of her diaspora investors so he could take them to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek a resolution.

“The meeting ended on what appeared to be a positive note,” he said.

He added that after receiving the feedback, the WinHomes CEO made a video thanking both the minister and the president for their willingness to consider a resolution.

However, O’Law said the situation changed abruptly days later.

“Suddenly, a few days after, the Minister invited the media to the WinHomes portion of the coastal road at Okun Ajah in Lagos,” he said.

“At the site, he told journalists that the woman had lied about everything.”

O’Law said he questioned the minister about the apparent contradiction between his earlier promise and the new public stance.

“Because I was there, I asked him why the sudden change of position after he promised the protest delegates that they would go together to resolve things with the president.”

According to him, the minister dismissed the protesters.

“He said the protesters were hired and denied the conclusions reached at the meeting. He also threatened that the woman should be arrested and handed over to the EFCC and other agencies.”

The journalist said the dispute over what was actually said during the meeting led him to retrieve the recording from his discreet device.

“The woman contacted me to check if the delegates had misrepresented what the minister said at the meeting,” he explained.

“I remembered that the discreet recorder was still on after the meeting, so I retrieved the footage to enable her listen to it herself.”

He said he did not personally publish the recording.

“I have personally not shared any single part of the video on my page because it was not my intention to malign or embarrass the minister or anyone.”

However, he said the WinHomes CEO later shared portions of the recording to support her claims.

O’Law also referenced other allegations linked to Umahi’s time as governor of Ebonyi State.

“Reports from the Minister’s time as Governor of Ebonyi State, including the alleged disappearance of engineers who disagreed with him and how a woman was seized from Lagos and taken to Abuja for challenging him, have raised legitimate concerns,” he said.

He further claimed that intelligence sources warned him his phone might be under surveillance.

“I received intelligence advising me to break my SIM and change my device because my lines and device were likely being tracked through my phone’s IMEI,” he said.

The journalist also narrated the case of a young man identified as Obanla who allegedly disappeared during the coastal road dispute.

“He was working at the site of WinHomes and disappeared mysteriously after the minister reportedly said nobody should be seen working along the corridor without his express permission,” he said.

According to O’Law, the issue was raised during the meeting with the minister.

“The delegates pleaded with the minister for the release of the boy. The minister leaned over and whispered to the Permanent Secretary and told him to call the then Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Korede-Keisha, to check for the boy.”

He said he later received information that the young man had been released.

“The next day I got a call that Obanla had been released after the minister gave the order at that meeting, but he was too traumatized and emaciated to appear publicly.”

Following the alleged threat, O’Law said he would now release more parts of the recording.

“Rising from this press conference, I shall now upload other parts of the recording, especially where the minister made the promise to take the diaspora investors to meet the president,” he said.

“It is the least I can do as a journalist to help bring the truth whenever there is confusion or contradiction.”

O’Law also issued a public security notice.

“I call for public protection by all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community. Please always check up on me from this moment,” he said.

He urged the public to monitor his social media platforms.

“Please monitor my official media pages: Objectv Media on Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.”

“If I stop posting for more than 48 hours without explanation and there is no nationwide network disruption, I urge the public to immediately raise concerns and investigate my safety.”

Meanwhile, the journalist said he was currently safe and had no personal issues that could justify harm against him.

“As of today, 12 March 2026, I am in good health. I have no suicidal thoughts. I am in good standing with my family and colleagues. I have no business disputes or debts with anyone that would justify harm against me.”

“Therefore, if anything happens to me, please look no further — Engr. David Nweze Umahi, the Minister of Works, who has declared himself ‘a dangerous man,’ should be held responsible.”

He added that copies of his statement had been sent to several international and local organizations including the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Lagos, the British High Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Media Rights Agenda, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists.