Businesswoman Ohiri Accuses Lawyer of Forcing Apology to Minister Umahi

Businesswoman Tracy Ohiri in a now viral video has stirred fresh controversy after she accused human rights lawyer Marshall Abubakar on Friday, 20 March 2026 of threatening and deceiving her into issuing an apology to the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

Ohiri claims she was coerced into recording the apology on the promise that she would receive full payment for goods she supplied over a decade ago, a debt she says Umahi has failed to settle.

The dispute started when Ohiri publicly accused Umahi of owing her for items she claimed to have delivered for political campaign use; sparking online activism and social media outrage. Many Nigerians rallied behind her, turning her allegations into a trending topic. However, the narrative took a turn when a video emerged showing Ohiri apologising privately to the minister, which led to rumors of a ₦100 million settlement.

Clarifying what happened, Ohiri said Abubakar persuaded her to make the video with the promise of payment before it was released, but she later felt intimidated and misled. She has now called on the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to investigate Abubakar’s conduct, claiming it was unethical and coercive.

The controversy highlights tensions between grassroots activism, legal representation, and political influence in Nigeria and raises questions about ethics within legal advocacy, especially when public sentiment and media attention are involved.