Tracyniter (Tracy) Nicholas Ohiri, a Nigerian businesswoman, has formally retracted her earlier allegations of sexual harassment and unpaid contracts against Dave Umahi, Minister of Works. The retraction was made in a video statement released on Wednesday.
Ohiri said her decision followed “proper consultation with my family, friends and legal team, and a painstaking review of events of the past two weeks.”
“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 visited Ebonyi State,” she stated. She added that she does not personally know the Neyland engineers beyond what she read online and heard from others.
Ohiri issued an apology to Umahi, his family, and others affected by the allegations. “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.”
READ ALSO: Lagos Calabar Coastal Road project will offer significant economic benefits–Umahi
Addressing specific claims, Ohiri clarified that she never alleged that Umahi tied a towel to meet her in a hotel room and apologised if her previous statements were magnified or taken out of context. She said her family has decided to move on from the matter and urged the public to respect that decision.
Regarding the financial dispute she had raised, Ohiri acknowledged that no formal agreement was signed between her and Umahi.
“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 explained. “I apologise sincerely for any misgivings that this might have caused.”
The retraction follows days of public debate on social media after her initial allegations surfaced, which were met with a rebuttal from Umahi.
The minister had earlier dismissed the claims as mischievous and politically motivated, stressing that no one under his leadership—as party chairman, deputy governor, or governor—had ever accused him of harassment.
Ohiri’s statement appears to close the matter publicly, with both parties now seeking to move forward.