Nigerian businesswoman, Mrs. Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of sexual harassment, intimidation, detention and refusal to pay for campaign promotional materials she claims to have supplied.
Ohiri, who publicly narrated her experience in Abuja on Thursday alleged that her business dealings with the minister date back to the period preceding his election as Governor of Ebonyi State.
She said she was contracted to produce corporate gift items for campaign purposes after making several presentations and submitting quotations.
According to her, despite requests for mobilisation funds, she was encouraged to proceed with production. She alleged that she financed the project through personal savings and loans, including funds meant for her children’s school fees.
Ohiri further claimed that during one of her visits to Ebonyi for business discussions, Umahi entered her hotel room wearing only a towel and made advances toward her, which she refused and ran to another room where she spent the night.
She said the items were later delivered to the minister’s residence in the presence of his family and staff after being transported by truck at her expense. However, she claimed she was neither reimbursed for logistics nor paid for the goods supplied.
The businesswoman alleged that after waiting for one year and eight months following the election period, she began demanding payment of the initial N25.4 million debt, which she claims has since accumulated to N304 million with interest.
She further alleged that whenever she demanded payment, the minister made repeated personal advances toward her, which she rejected.
“I told him to focus on paying me my money and stop asking me out,” she said, alleging that this led to hostility and threatening messages.
She alleged that following a social media outcry over the matter after the death of her father, whom she said she had hoped to send abroad for medical treatment security operatives arrested her at her residence and transported her to Abuja.
She narrated that Umahi denied ever meeting her during a police interaction. She claimed she presented photographs and other materials to counter the denial.
Tracyniter Nicholas is being arraigned by the police before a magistrate court at the Wise zone 2 Abuja.
Human rights activists led by Omoyele Sowore have besieged the court in solidarity with the businesswoman as they insist on getting justice for her.
Meanwhile, Umahi has denied instructing police officers to target Ohiri over the dispute concerning campaign payments.
Describing her claims as inconsistent, contradictory, and lacking clarity, Umahi noted that members of the public who have followed the matter have similarly questioned the credibility of her account.
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