Abuja, Nigeria – March 5, 2026 – The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, is facing fresh allegations of indebtedness, this time from a man who claims to be his former classmate at Government Secondary School, Afikpo, in Ebonyi State. Chief Obinna has publicly accused the minister of owing him N7 million for a contract executed at a hotel allegedly belonging to Umahi in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital .
The accusation comes at a time when the minister is already embroiled in a separate high-profile dispute with a businesswoman, Tracy Nicholas Ohiri, who claims Umahi owes her over N250 million for campaign materials supplied during his 2014 governorship bid .
Classmate’s Allegations: Unpaid Hotel Job
In a video that has circulated widely on social media, Chief Obinna detailed his grievance against the minister, whom he described as a former schoolmate.
“I am Chief Obinna, the man that is also accusing the Honourable Minister, Engr. David Umahi, on indebtedness to the tune of N7 million for a job that was done for him in his hotel in Abakaliki,” Obinna said in the video, referring to Osborn La Palma Hotel .
Obinna claimed that people in their circle were aware when he was engaged for the contract, but his experience with Umahi and his associates left a bitter taste. “Everybody was aware when I was engaged in that contract job. My experience with Dave Umahi and his people led to a very sad taste in my mouth that I don’t even really want to drag him,” he stated .
Despite their long-standing relationship, Obinna expressed disappointment at how he was treated. “David Umahi is not a good person because not minding the fact that he was my classmate in Government Secondary School in Afikpo, he treated me badly,” he said, though he stopped short of providing further details about the mistreatment .
The contractor insisted that the debt must be settled and threatened to escalate the matter if payment is not forthcoming. “I don’t want to expose him further. But let it be on record that he still owing me N7 million and I need that money. I will soon go for him. I will report myself to the police in any moment from now,” Obinna warned.
The fresh allegation adds to mounting pressure on the Minister of Works, who has been at the center of public controversy since Ohiri’s case gained national attention. Ohiri, who claims Umahi owes her over N250 million for campaign materials supplied in 2014, was reportedly arrested and detained following her public accusations against the minister.
The matter took a legal turn when Ohiri was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Abuja on allegations of cyberbullying. She was remanded at Keffi Correctional Centre pending fulfilment of her bail conditions, though the Nigerian Correctional Service reported facing resistance from individuals claiming to be civil society activists during attempts to transfer her.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has been vocal about the case, publicizing confrontations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja and drawing national attention to the matter.
While the minister has not yet issued an official response to Chief Obinna’s claims, his media office has been actively pushing back against Ohiri’s allegations. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister’s camp claimed that Ohiri had quietly deleted all videos and posts related to her accusations from her social media accounts, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook .
“This sudden cleanup follows the public exposure of several inconsistencies, ambiguities in her timelines, and discrepancies in the amounts stated in her claims. Faced with contradictions in her own narratives, she appears to have chosen deletion over explanation,” the statement read .
The minister’s aide noted that Ohiri had initially claimed N24.5 million before later revising the figure to over N300 million, raising questions about the consistency of her allegations.
Four women-led advocacy organisations have closed ranks in defence of the Minister of Works, calling for strict adherence to due process in handling allegations against him. The groups include Women Advocates for Responsible Governance (WARG), Women for Justice and Institutional Integrity (WJII), Coalition of Patriotic Nigerian Women (CPNW), and National Women Alliance for Rule of Law (NWARL) .
Addressing a joint press conference in Abuja, the groups questioned the absence of documentary evidence to support claims dating back nearly a decade. National President of WARG, Dr. Amina Yusuf, expressed concern that unsubstantiated claims were being amplified in a manner capable of undermining governance .
“The issue is not about silencing any individual, but about ensuring that serious allegations are backed by credible evidence,” she said. “Nearly a decade later, there appears to be no formal demand letter, civil action, or documented effort at recovery if the claim was genuine. Public discourse must not replace legal procedure” .
Similarly, the Executive Director of WJII, Hajia Halimat Bello, emphasised that institutional integrity depends on proof and process. “Commercial transactions of such magnitude cannot exist without documentation. If the supply truly occurred, let procurement records or evidence of civil recovery steps be presented before a competent court” .
The groups warned that emotional narratives should not overshadow legal standards, noting that sensational approaches risk eroding public trust in legitimate grievances.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately institute an independent investigative panel into the escalating dispute between Umahi and Ohiri, warning that the handling of the matter raises grave concerns about potential abuse of power and compromised law enforcement processes .
HURIWA argued that when allegations involve a serving cabinet member, particularly claims touching on financial transactions, sexual harassment, and the use of police processes against an accuser, public confidence requires more than a routine police investigation. The association anchored its position on constitutional provisions guaranteeing equality before the law and the right to fair hearing by an impartial tribunal .
The accusations against Umahi extend beyond Ohiri and Chief Obinna. Dr. Jackie Ikeotuonye, CEO of Andrew Bishopton Limited, has also accused the minister of betrayal and intimidation following a dispute over consultancy fees related to the recovery of over $119 million in alleged over-deductions from Ebonyi State’s foreign loan servicing account .
Ikeotuonye claimed that her firm was formally appointed by the Ebonyi State Government in 2015 to reconcile and recover excess deductions on foreign and local loan facilities. Despite securing a court judgment over consultancy fees tied to the recovery, she alleges she was abducted by armed police officers from her Abuja residence and transported to Abakaliki .
Despite the mounting allegations, Umahi’s media office has maintained that the minister remains focused on his national assignments. “The Honourable Minister of Works remains calm, focused, and undistracted. His attention is firmly on his mandate and on delivering critical infrastructure in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read .
As of the time of this report, the Minister of Works has not issued an official response to the fresh allegations made by Chief Obinna. The matter raises broader questions about due process, the handling of commercial disputes involving public officials, and the role of social media in shaping public perception of allegations against government figures.
