Umahi Breaks Silence On Ohiri Allegations, Insists On Court Trial ‎

‎ ‎ ‎....Denies N1bn Payment Negotiation ‎ ‎

‎The Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations involving Mrs. Tracy Ohiri, declaring that the matter should be resolved in court if credible evidence is not provided. ‎ ‎In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Francis Nwaze, the Minister said his attention had been drawn to public claims and counterclaims linked to Mrs. Ohiri and her lawyer, Barr. Marshall Abubakar, stressing that it had become necessary to set the record straight in the interest of truth and public clarity.

‎ ‎According to the statement, Barr. Marshall Abubakar acted in good faith and was motivated purely by a desire to assist Mrs. Ohiri, noting that his involvement was selfless and aimed at resolving the issue amicably. ‎ ‎The aide clarified that at no time did Barr. Marshall discuss or negotiate the payment of any money to Mrs. Ohiri on behalf of the Minister. However, he noted that some associates and well-meaning individuals independently reached out to the lawyer with the intention of helping her. ‎ ‎The Minister, the statement said, had earlier outlined two conditions for resolving the dispute — that the matter be determined in court, or that Mrs. Ohiri provide verifiable evidence, including all relevant communications, to support her claims. ‎ ‎Nwaze further stated that Barr. Marshall conducted himself with integrity throughout the process and neither requested nor received money from the Minister at any point. ‎ ‎Following the failure to meet the stated conditions, particularly the inability to present credible and verifiable evidence, the Minister has directed his legal team to proceed with court action to establish the truth. ‎ ‎The statement also revealed that the Minister had indicated that if Mrs. Ohiri could provide complete logs and communications covering the period in question, some friends and associates were willing to contribute the sum of One Billion Naira (N1 billion) to resolve the matter. ‎According to the Minister, the requested evidence has not been provided. ‎ ‎The Minister noted that he had remained silent for years despite repeated public attacks, explaining that his restraint was deliberate in order to focus on national service. He, however, said recent developments made a response unavoidable. ‎ ‎He expressed appreciation to Nigerians who have taken time to examine the facts, adding that public understanding of the situation is gradually improving. ‎ ‎Reaffirming his commitment to duty, the Minister stated that he would not allow the controversy to distract him from delivering critical road infrastructure projects across the country, stressing that his focus remains on service, results, and national development. ‎ ‎He assured Nigerians that the administration remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the continued transformation of the nation’s infrastructure sector.