Umahi dismisses sex allegation by Tracy Ohiri, jokes about ‘Natasha’ comparison

2026-02-28 - 19:46

By Dennis Agbo Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, on Saturday dismissed allegations by businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri that he demanded sex from her in exchange for the payment of a purported debt, calling the claims politically motivated and making light of the situation with a jest. Speaking in Enugu after inspecting federal government projects in Enugu and Anambra State, Umahi suggested that the allegation might be linked to the upcoming political season in Nigeria. He joked that if the woman were as attractive as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, he would have been “consoled,” but otherwise dismissed the accusation as baseless. “Don’t insult your leaders because what a man soweth is what he reaps. People know me very well. I was a party chairman, Deputy Governor, and Governor for eight years, and nobody said I harassed anyone,” Umahi said. He added, “What you read on social media doesn’t worry me. It makes me stronger. There is nothing wrong with saying that a man is chasing a woman, but if it were Natasha making the claim, I would say ‘oh’ and my face would be bold [laughs]. But not just anybody accusing a man for 12 years — that person must be the queen of England.” During his visit, Umahi inspected several major projects, including the ongoing Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, the Abakpa junction flyovers in Enugu, and the Eke–Obinagu flyover along the Enugu–Abakaliki–Ogoja Trans-Africa Highway. Umahi maintained that the allegation was politically motivated and urged Nigerians to focus on more pressing issues, including international conflicts, while downplaying the social media controversy. “I know it’s all about politics, and politics has started, but when the right time comes and the whistle is blown by INEC, we will know what we are made of,” he said.