The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has identified ‘serious logical gaps’ in claims made by Mrs Tracy Ohiri against the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, while calling for restraint and adherence to due process following a public confrontation by activist Omoyele Sowore.
It will be recalled that on the 25th of February 2026 at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command in Abuja, a confrontation occurred involving Mr Sowore and the Minister of Works. A widely circulated video shows Mr Sowore publicly accusing the Minister of misusing police authority in relation to an alleged private dispute involving Mrs Tracy Nicholas Ohiri.
COCSON after carefully analysing the issue, presented a fact driven position during a press conference addressed by its National President, Olawale Oladimeji on Friday in Abuja.
The Coalition revealed that it will be organizing a solidarity rally in support of the Minister on the Tuesday 3rd of March, 2026 to counter a rally against the Minister proposed by Sowore and his cohorts.
The group maintained that the accuser’s accounts were inconsistent and contradictory, a position that could be attested by members of the public who have followed the developments, while warning against what it described as “sensationalism disguised as activism.”
Central to the allegations is a claim that Umahi owes ₦24.5 million for campaign materials allegedly supplied during the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election. In separate online narratives, a ₦250 million figure has also been mentioned, creating what COCSON described as “inconsistencies” in the claims.
The minister’s office has maintained that the matter is under lawful review and that the allegations lack verifiable documentation.
On the way forward, COCSON reaffirmed that no citizen is above the law but cautioned against public condemnation without proof, insisting that “Justice must be evidence driven. Governance must not be derailed by distraction.”
The group also called on investigative authorities to conclude their work without politicization, insisting that accountability must be rooted in verifiable facts and institutional processes.
“COCSON shall be organizing a solidarity rally in support of the Minister on the Tuesday 3rd of March, 2026 to counter a rally against the Minister. We ask Nigeria to join us to shame Sowore and his cohorts and not to join the proposed rally against the Minister,” Oladimeji stated.
Other salient observations and issues raised by COCSON’s findings are as follows:
Questions Over Documentation and Timing
COCSON said its internal review identified “serious logical gaps” in the allegations. The coalition questioned the absence of written contracts, delivery notes, acknowledgement of receipt, and documented demands for payment dating back to 2015.
“Governorship campaigns operate through structured committees and documented procurement processes,” the group said, arguing that transactions worth millions of naira would not typically rest on verbal agreements alone.
The coalition also raised concerns about the timeline, asking why the issue surfaced publicly nearly a decade after the alleged transaction. It noted that Nigeria’s judicial system provides mechanisms for civil debt recovery, including demand letters, arbitration, and court filings.
“Timing in public life is rarely accidental,” COCSON stated, suggesting that the delay in public escalation warrants scrutiny.
Call for Due Process
COCSON emphasised that while freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed, it must operate within the bounds of evidence and legality.
“If there is evidence, let it be presented in court. If there is documentation, let it be tested legally,” the coalition said.
The group stressed that private contractual disputes should be resolved through the courts rather than through “viral confrontations staged for public spectacle,” warning against the growing trend of social media being used as a substitute for legal institutions.
Institutional Integrity and Governance
Defending the minister’s public record, COCSON highlighted Umahi’s tenure as former governor of Ebonyi State and his current oversight of federal road infrastructure projects, describing the office as “performance measured and high pressure.”
The coalition argued that governance should not be disrupted by unverified allegations circulating online and urged Nigerians to resist what it termed “emotional manipulation.”
