‘Pay Me My Money!’ — Businesswoman Accuses Works Minister David Umahi Of Detention, Harassment After Rejecting Alleged Advances

Abuja, Nigeria– A businesswoman, Tracy Nicolas Ohiri, on Thursday publicly accused Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, of allegedly orchestrating her arrest and detention after she demanded payment for goods and services she said she supplied to him over a decade ago.

Tracy was brought before a Magistrate Court in Wuse 6, Abuja, amid reports that the police were seeking to have her remanded in prison custody.

Addressing journalists shortly after her court appearance, Tracy alleged that the minister was using senior police officers, including Akin Fakorede and Frank Mba, to intimidate and harass her.

She said, “Yes, David Umahi, pay me my money. I’m not afraid of you. You can lie all you want.

“David, you must pay me my money. I supplied goods to you, directly to you. You woke me up at 5 a.m. in the morning and asked me.

“Yes, you know me very, very well. Just because you asked to date me and I said no, you turned it upside down.

“Sir, you will give me my money. They say you’re an honourable minister. David Umahi, there is nothing honourable about you.”

She further alleged that she was being persecuted for speaking out.

“And you are using police to oppress me. The only police officer that has been nice to me since I came to Abuja is one Maya, Iliya, and one Mr. Ali. The rest are so wicked and mean.

“The one that is my IPO always calls David and his PA to give them information. And he will be asking her different questions — if I’m weak, if I’m broken. I can never be broken.

“David, I can never be broken. You will pay me my money.”

Tracy claimed that she met Umahi years ago when he was still a public official in Ebonyi State. According to her, she was introduced to him through an engineer she identified as “Engineer Denon,” who allegedly invited her to exhibit her corporate gift business in the state.

She recounted that at the time Umahi was deputy governor, he informed her of his intention to contest for governor and requested that she produce promotional gift items for his campaign.

“One morning around 5 a.m., he called me and said he was going to contest as governor and would need me to produce promotional gift items for campaigning,” she said.

She said she asked about mobilisation fees, having previously submitted a quotation, but alleged that Umahi told her to proceed without upfront payment, claiming he was travelling to Abuja to raise funds for his election bid.

“I had to carry my children’s school fees, gather money, borrow money from individuals, and produce these gift items,” she said.

According to her, she transported the goods by truck to Ebonyi State, lodged in hotels at her own expense, and delivered the items to Umahi’s residence.

“The goods were not small. His wife’s friends, his children and his workers offloaded them to his house. He told me thank you. He never gave us money for fuel. Even the driver had to provide money to fuel that truck, and we came back to Lagos,” she alleged.

She said she waited for over a year and eight months before demanding payment, at which point, she claimed, the relationship deteriorated.

“While I’m asking for my payment, David is asking me out. While I’m asking for my payment, David is asking me to date him,” she said.

“I told him, ‘Sir, can you concentrate on paying me my money? Stop telling me about dating. I have told you I cannot date you.’ He became angry.”

Tracy alleged that she later received a threatening SMS from a number she claimed belonged to Umahi.

“He sent me a message that I insulted him. ‘I will teach you a lesson for insulting me. I will deal with you,’” she said, adding that she still has the message on her phone.

She further alleged that when she threatened to travel to Ebonyi State to protest, Umahi told her she “would not come out alive.”

“When my dad became sick, I needed to fly him to the U.S. for treatment. I said I have money — why would I have money? I’m suffering like this. I reached out to David Umahi. He said, ‘Let your father die if he needs to die.’”

Tracy said she remained silent for years until her father’s death, after which she took to social media to demand payment and called on the President to intervene.

Shortly after, she alleged, police officers arrested her at her home and transported her to Abuja.

“I just dropped my children at school. Getting back, I was about to have my bath. They arrested me and brought me straight to Abuja,” she said.

She also claimed that during a police interaction session, Umahi denied ever knowing her.

“David Umahi looked me in the eyes and said he has never met me before. He said he was only meeting me for the first time.

“I brought pictures with David Umahi. I brought evidence showing me and David Umahi in his office as deputy governor. Fakorede then said, ‘How are we sure this is real?’”

“I am only a woman working so hard legally to feed her children and her family. What did I do wrong by asking you and working for you without mobilisation?

“David, pay me my money. I want all right-thinking men and women, God-fearing men and women all over the world to stand up for justice. David is owing me, and I need my money paid with interest because 12 years is not 12 months.”

Visibly emotional, Tracy said her ordeal reflects the broader struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

“I weep for Nigeria. I’m not weeping because of my money. I weep because the common man has no hope in this country.

“The country belongs only to Nigerian politicians and their children.The resources of this country belong only to Nigerian politicians and their children. If they are not using you, my dear, you are of no value to them. If they are not exploiting you for the wrong reasons, you simply do not matter to them.

“His son has just picked a form to become the local government chairman of his area—his own local government. This same boy was once just a child.”

She said, “Every time I presented these facts, they were dismissed. David Umahi denied having a daughter named Paradise. Meanwhile, I had played with his daughter in his compound that very day. I asked what is your name? She replied, “Paradise.” Yet he claimed he did not know what was happening. We were there, playing together.

“And now his son is stepping forward to continue ruling Nigeria with the same iron hand his father used to rule us. So tell me, what hope does this country have for the common man?”