Abati Questions Ohiri’s Claims Against Umahi as Defamation Case Moves to Abuja Court

A fresh public dispute involving Minister of Works David Umahi, businesswoman Tracynither Nicolas Ohiri and former presidential aide Reuben Abati has escalated, with allegations, denials and a criminal defamation case now running alongside social media debate.

Ohiri, who said she supplied campaign promotional materials during Umahi’s 2014 governorship bid in Ebonyi State, alleged that she is owed N250 million. She also made personal misconduct allegations, including a claim that the minister made repeated advances toward her and, on one occasion, entered her room with only a towel around his waist.

According to her account, she rejected those advances while pressing for payment. In remarks to reporters in Abuja, she said: "As I started asking him for my payment, David was asking me out while I’m asking for my payment. David is asking me to date him. I told him. ‘No Sir,'"

She further said: "One day, I got so frustrated. I said sir, can you concentrate and pay me my money? Stop telling me about dating you. I’ve told you I cannot date you. He became angry and hung up on me. The next thing, he sent me a message that I insulted him. ‘I will teach you a lesson for insulting me.’ I can show it to the all Nigerians. He said, ‘I will teach… I will deal with you for insulting me. So that was it. Since that day, he blocked me."

Continuing her narration, Ohiri said she travelled to Ebonyi at Umahi’s invitation in relation to gift and campaign item production. She said he initially asked her to proceed despite funding constraints and that she bore significant costs for accommodation and logistics. She also repeated her hotel-room allegation, saying she moved to her staff’s room for safety.

Umahi has denied the allegations. The matter has since moved beyond online argument, with police action now part of the controversy. Reports say Ohiri is facing defamation charges filed by the Nigeria Police at an Abuja Magistrate Court after a three-day detention.

On Arise News Morning Show, Abati questioned aspects of the account, especially the hotel-room claim. He said: "And again, she’s a married woman. As a married woman, what are you doing in a hotel room with Umahi tying towel?"

Abati also urged that contractual disputes be handled through formal legal channels. "Contractual issues, if transactions go wrong, the place to go is a court of law. Dramatizing, it would amount to contempt either in the face of the court or away from the face of the court," he said.

The case now sits at the intersection of commercial disagreement, reputational damage and criminal process. Legal analysts say the next phase is likely to turn on documentary evidence linked to the alleged supply contract, payment trail, communications between both parties, and court findings on the defamation filing.

For now, key claims remain contested in the public domain: Ohiri insists she is owed money and was subjected to improper conduct; Umahi rejects the accusations; and Abati’s comments have introduced another layer of debate around personal responsibility and legal procedure. With litigation underway, the courts are expected to play the central role in determining the credibility of competing accounts and any liability that may follow.