“If It’s Senator Natasha My Face Would Be Bolder” — Dave Umahi Breaks Silence on Sexual Harassment Allegation
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has firmly rejected allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, characterising the claims as unfounded and amplified by social media sensationalism.
The controversy, which surfaced prominently on March 1, 2026, followed comments the minister made to journalists on February 28 in Abuja. During the interaction, Umahi addressed both the harassment allegations and claims of an outstanding financial dispute tied to campaign-related services allegedly rendered more than a decade ago.
He maintained that throughout his years in public office, including his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State, no such accusations had ever been made against him.
“I want to thank a lot of you who know me very well. I owe nobody. And of course, I presided over both men and women, and nobody ever said I harassed him or her,” Umahi stated.
Reflecting on his eight-year tenure as governor, he added: “I was governor for eight years, and I did fantastic infrastructure. So nobody could come and accuse me wrongly unless they were being mischievous.”
PulseNets learnt that the allegations stem from claims by Ohiri that the minister failed to settle payments for campaign promotional materials allegedly supplied during his 2014 governorship bid. Reported figures linked to the dispute range between N200 million and N304 million.
Responding to the debt allegation, the minister reiterated his position, stating: “As party chairman, I owed nobody.”
On the accusation of sexual harassment, which includes claims of repeated unwanted advances and an alleged incident involving a hotel visit during a business trip to Ebonyi State, Umahi dismissed the narrative as exaggerated.
“There is nothing wrong to say, oh, you are chasing a woman,” he remarked.
In a comment that has since drawn mixed reactions online, he further stated: “If it’s Natasha that said I’m chasing her, my face would be bolder, not anyhow person that’ll accuse this handsome man of chasing her for 12 years.”
The minister described the unfolding situation as fleeting social media noise and urged the public to focus on broader national and international developments.
“It’s just for social media, but I think we can turn our attention to the war in Iran and allow Umahi to rest,” he said, referencing global tensions dominating current headlines.
Background to the Dispute
PulseNets reported that Ohiri had publicly accused the minister of refusing to honour financial obligations tied to campaign services, alleging that the non-payment was connected to her rejection of what she described as persistent advances. She further claimed intimidation and threats when she sought settlement.
The matter escalated following her arraignment on defamation charges at an Abuja court, where she pleaded not guilty. Viral footage also circulated online, including a video showing activist Omoyele Sowore confronting the minister at a police facility.
No formal criminal charges relating to sexual harassment have been filed against Umahi at the time of filing this report. The financial disagreement appears to remain within a civil or contractual context.
Public Reaction and Political Context
The development has triggered sharp divisions across social and political circles.
Supporters of the minister have pointed to his record in public office and described the allegations as opportunistic and politically motivated. Critics, however, argue that certain remarks made during his response risk trivialising concerns around power dynamics and consent in contemporary discourse.
Also Read: Not Yet Our Turn: Umahi Says Southeast Must Wait Until 2031 for Nigeria’s Presidency
Others view the episode as reflective of broader tensions involving contractual disputes between political figures and private contractors, particularly when disagreements spill into public confrontation and legal action.
The controversy unfolds amid heightened political activity across Nigeria, including realignments and coalition talks among opposition figures. While Umahi has indicated that he considers the matter settled from his standpoint, public debate continues.
