A Nigerian businesswoman, Tracy Nicholas Ohiri, has withdrawn the sexual harassment and contract-related allegations she earlier made against Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and has publicly apologised over the controversy.
Ohiri made the clarification in a video statement released on Wednesday after days of intense public debate on social media. The allegations had drawn national attention and sparked reactions from political commentators and supporters of the minister.
In the new statement, the businesswoman said she decided to step back from the claims after holding discussions with her family members, close friends and legal advisers.
According to her, she also reviewed developments surrounding the matter over the past two weeks before making the decision to retract her earlier position.
During the statement, she admitted that the minister, a former governor of Ebonyi State, did not threaten or warn her about any consequences related to a visit to the state.
“I admit that Engineer Dave Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi state, and the current minister of Works, did not inform me that what happened to the Neyland engineers would happen to me if I visit Ebonyi state,” she said.
Ohiri further explained that she had no personal connection with the individuals she previously referenced in her earlier allegations. She said most of the information she mentioned about the engineers came from discussions and reports circulating online.
“I admit that Engineer Dave Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi state, and the current minister of Works, did not inform me that what happened to the Neyland engineers would happen to me if I visit Ebonyi state.”
She also extended an apology to the minister and those affected by the controversy that followed her claims.
“I apologise to Engineer Dave Umahi for the embarrassment this allegation may have caused him and his family,” she said.
“I sincerely apologise to his family, to my own family, friends, and everyone who felt caught and embarrassed with what happened.”
Ohiri additionally addressed one of the most widely circulated claims from the earlier allegations. She clarified that she never stated that the minister attempted to meet her in a hotel room while wrapped in a towel.
“I apologise if the allegations have been magnified and taken out of context,” she added.
Speaking on the contractual dispute that was also part of the controversy, the businesswoman acknowledged that no formal written agreement existed between her and the minister. She suggested that materials she delivered for the assignment might have been handled by aides without the minister’s direct knowledge.
“Although the job was done and delivered to his aides, they might have used the material for campaign purposes without informing him, and without him knowing about it,” she said.
“I apologise sincerely for any misgivings that this might have caused.”
The development comes after days of strong reactions online following her initial accusations. In an earlier response, Minister Umahi dismissed the claims and described them as false and politically motivated.
The minister had also stated that throughout his years in public office, including his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State, no allegation of harassment had ever been made against him.