Eni Uduma Chima
In the age of internet, there is nothing that the social media could not concoct. The outbursts in a recent viral video of what was later confirmed as a scheduled meeting between the Hon. Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi and a lady, one Mrs. Tracy Ohiri, is one. Mrs. Ohiri claimed to have been arrested by the police at the instance of the minister over alleged unpaid contractual debts has since lit the social media space, just as Human Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore’s interface during the altercation almost blurred what could have been deemed the real issues.
It is trite to note however that follow-up videos, which later surfaced hours after, showing Mrs. Ohiri giving further details in a press interview just before and after her arraignment before an Abuja Magistrate Court, raised even more curious questions about the desperate negative publicity and the pathetic inconsistencies in her claims of being indebted to the tune of over N300 million by the workaholic Minister of Works.
Though the matter is now properly before a court of competent jurisdiction, same having been adjourned till a later date in April 2026, the salient points that could have perhaps been deduced from her interviews was again beclouded by the lots of posers. Most of which her largely eccentric claims raised before critical and right-minded thinkers.
Watching and listening to her rather weird claims, the logic and clear thought aroused by the lawyer in me simply shoved emotions aside for some real critical posers:
•Transparency/Due Process: It is intriguing that all through Umahi’s years on the saddle as Governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs Ohiri did not bother to send a petition to the state House of Assembly detailing these old wives’ fables of injury to her business and person. But, assuming without conceding that Minister Umahi as a 2015 gubernatorial candidate of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party indeed engaged Mrs. Ohiri as a contractor for the supply of certain campaign materials as claimed, exactly on what capacity was the said engagement done?
The answer to this question is truly important, because it is to public knowledge that Umahi had a solid campaign council headed by Chief Frank Ogbuewu and had the overwhelming support of the top hierarchy of the likes of former Governor, Senator Sam Egwu, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius and others including those in Wadata Plaza, hence he was able to waltz his way to power despite stiff opposition from the state establishment.
Were these ones aware of these mysterious campaign materials and services that cannot be named in the open? Did they receive such or at least, have passing knowledge of such materials and services? If, however, she was engaged to make her supplies on not too formal grounds, at least, such supplies to a politician, contesting against the will of a then sitting governor, should be made with minimal caution, caveat and reservation, from the dictates of common sense, it is possible to lose an election and breach contracts tied to the success of such elections.
This naturally sets off the alarm for urgency and due diligence for recovery of the money. Even in an informal setting, one may not be fair to insist on the production of written contract agreements. However, there must be some correspondence, while such contract was being carried out. There must be communication in relation to nature of goods and services, quantity and quality, date and place of delivery, time for payments, mention of delivery and completion of tasks, receipts, way-bills, informal witnesses, communication in texts reminders and demand for payment etc.
•Description of goods: Exactly what ‘campaign material’ was actually supplied and what particular amount is the claimant owed? She appeared clever by half when she first claimed that the amount owed her was N24.5M, but quickly made a U-turn that it was N350million.
Is Mrs. Ohiri insinuating on the latter value as the actual current value of the nearly a decade and two years’ debt allegedly owed her? We need to be carried along on how the value of the alleged contract has been changing like the weather.
Where are the multiple zeros coming from? Why can’t the madam show us some relevant shred of proofs no matter how scanty or, is she hiding anything? “He who goes to equity must go with clean hands.” A business of the magnitude she describes in 2014 could not have been carried out so casually that she will rely solely on her memory.
•Timing: A further stretch of one’s imagination into her claims would ultimately make a logical and philosophical thinker to demand if and why there was no demand evidence immediately after the said election and why she waited for a decade and two years before going public.
At least, there must be a gradual build up to her “anger and frustration” not the sudden intermittent theatrics and vulgar outbursts on social media, which began just after the appointment of Engr. Umahi as Minister.
The witch cried last night and the child dies today, could there be some actors behind the scene, latching onto the episode, recreating it, surgicalising the facts, circumstances and figures and above all, deploying same to generate maximum negative publicity for Umahi, one of the top-rated ministers of the renewed hope administration?
This is not impossible given that power and fame bring with them jealousy, rivalry and bitter opposition from within and without, especially in a pre-election year. By delving into the Ebonyi State politics to argue the propriety of Engr. Osborne Umahi’s participation in the forthcoming Local Government Election, Madam Tracy’s theatrics becomes very revealing.
Was the proviso that Umahi’s children should be apolitical part of the terms of her alleged =N=350M contract? Or is she arguing that Engr. Osborne Umahi is not qualified by age or education to engage in partisan political participation?
Pondering on these facts really make Madam Tracy’s claims at best, ring de javu and that the claimant presents her story only close to election circles as an “Abiku” child, that comes back to life, whenever the political atmosphere revs up tells on the motif. What is more, she cleverly engages in quiet obfuscation by refusing to mention her company’s name, at least, for discerning minds to run a random check on her business profile, vis-a-vis her obviously fictional allegations.
That this pattern leaves much to be desired is not in doubt and also exposes the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob in one breadth. Although the claim wears the toga of disputed economic activity, it masks clandestine political machinations.
•Adjudication: Although the matter is now properly instituted before a Court of law, where she perhaps would be forced to prove her claims with the facts she has never availed the public, one thing is clear: the issue has become more political than business activity, as many rightly suspect and affirm.
The tint of sexual harassment allegation, coming after over 12 years, seems to be the appropriate seasoning intended to excite emotions and pander to public sympathy by fraud. History shows that many a hag had deployed this tool repeatedly to bring gifted men down.
One imagines the trolling and tar-brushing such carefully orchestrated choreograph could have brought upon the biblical Joseph, if the attempted rape allegation by Potiphar’s wife was made available to the social media audience of this generation, especially with an Angel Sowore on hand to play the hype- man.
•Calumny campaign: For many sensible Nigerians, these may seem a perfect script by traducers to distract a very diligent subset and architect of the bold infrastructure vision of the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially considering the timing.
But, the Umahi we know is an unbending fellow. Unperturbed, undistracted and deeply focused on his national assignments as the first Minister of Works with hands-on experience and engineering training.
If the police investigation of an alleged cyber-bullying by Madam Tracy Ohiri unearths sufficient grounds to charge her, that should not heat up the polity. The onus lies on the police to prove her guilt, not on her to prove her innocence, it is a state burden, not Ohiri’s.
On the other hand, the allegations of breach of contract against the minister is at best a civil matter, unless Ohiri decides to add the towel aspect of her story or any other aspects her fertile imagination may conjure in the days to come. Madam Ohiri should have her day in court to establish her case, because as we lawyers say: “He who asserts must prove.”
•Caution: Nigerians and the world should not grovel over the serious issues of crime, law and punishments on the basis of social media trials influenced by unsubstantiated and nebulous allegations served amid emotive dramas.
Those chanting that the minister has money and should just pay his accuser off to have his peace are helping in setting a dangerous precedence, where blackmail of the privileged is enthroned as a silent public policy to massage the ego of the mobs. Pontius Pilate exonerated himself on the liability which comes with the tyranny of the headless mob, the undiscerning masses.
Like the former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, stated before the Falkland war: “You don’t turn the other cheek to a bully.” Not even to a social media herd.
•Hon. Chima Ph.D, is a former two-term member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, former Chairman, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and current Chairman, Board, Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Company Ltd.
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