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By Goli Innocent
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has publicly addressed allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him, firmly denying any misconduct and describing the claims as unfounded.
The allegation was made by Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, who also accused the former Ebonyi State governor of failing to pay her over a campaign-related transaction.
Ohiri was arraigned before a magistrate court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on a defamation charge and granted bail in the sum of ₦1 million with two sureties after pleading not guilty.
Reacting in a video statement, Umahi said his record in public service speaks for itself. “I want to thank a lot of you who know me very well.
“As party chairman, I owed nobody,” he said. “Of course, I presided over both men and women, and nobody ever said I harassed them. Deputy governor, the same, governor for eight years, and I did fantastic in infrastructure, so nobody could come and say… unless the person is being mischievous.”
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He added that he was not troubled by the online reactions generated by the allegation.
“So, what you read in social media, I’m not worried about it. It makes me stronger, and I have fought many battles, so this is nothing,” he said.
The minister also made a reference to Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating, “There’s nothing wrong to say, oh, you are chasing a woman.
“But if it is Natasha that is accusing me of chasing her, then my face will be bolder. But not any how person that will accuse this handsome man of chasing him for 12 years. That person must be the Queen of England.”
The controversy comes amid heightened public conversations around sexual harassment allegations in Nigerian politics, following previous claims involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which he has denied.
