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Accuses Sowore of Pushing Misleading Narrative
- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has accused human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, of pushing misleading narratives as he opened up on the alleged N250 million owed to Tracy Ohiri.
NPO Reported that Sowore had yesterday shared video of his confrontation with Umahi over the detention of Ohiri who was allegedly arrested from Ebonyi and detained at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command under the directive of the minister.
Ohiri, according to Sowore, had delivered materials for Umahi’s governorship campaign back in 2014.
The minister was alleged to have since refused to pay for the materials and directed police to arrest the woman over her persistent demand for her money in what Sowore labelled intimidation.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi denied using the police to intimidate the woman.
The Minister said the police had acted within their constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and investigate complaints by arresting Ohiri in response to a petition submitted by his lawyer.
Umahi claimed he was only invited by the police to write his statement over the petition and arrest of the woman.
He accused Sowore of attempting to dramatise the lawful process by staging a public spectacle, reiterating that he never deployed the police to settle personal scores.
On the allegation filed against him, Umahi held that Ohiri’s accounts have been inconsistent, contradictory, and lacking coherence.
The statement read; “The Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has taken note of a video currently being circulated by Omoyele Sowore, in which he attempts to publicly confront and provoke the Minister over a matter already before the appropriate authorities.
“For clarity and public record, the allegations referenced by Mr Sowore were made by Mrs Tracy Ohiri and have been in the public space since last year.
“These claims, which relate to alleged assault and unpaid campaign materials, have been repeatedly published through social media videos and writings.
“It is important to state that her accounts have been inconsistent, contradictory, and lacking coherence, a fact that has been widely observed by members of the public who have followed the matter over time.
“Contrary to the misleading narrative being pushed by Sowore, the honourable minister did not deploy the police to settle any personal score.
“The Nigeria Police Force, acting within its constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and investigate complaints, acted on a petition submitted by the minister’s lawyer, arrested her, and invited the Honourable Minister in line with standard procedure for statements.
“Mr Sowore’s attempt to dramatise this lawful process by staging a public spectacle is a familiar pattern of performative activism aimed at gaining attention rather than seeking truth.
“The honourable minister, consistent with his character and respect for due process, declined to be drawn into theatrics and calmly disengaged.
“As it stands, the matter is under police investigation, where facts will determine the outcome.
“Activism, in its true sense, is not about indiscriminate attacks on public office holders or chasing relevance. It is about integrity, balance, and a genuine commitment to justice without prejudice or personal bias.
“The Honourable Minister of Works remains fully committed to transparency, respect for the rule of law, and the uninterrupted delivery of critical infrastructure for the benefit of Nigerians.
“He will continue to respect institutional processes and will not be distracted by calculated provocations.”