The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and constitute an independent investigative panel to probe the escalating dispute between the minister and a businesswoman, Tracynither Nicolas Ohiri.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group warned that the handling of the controversy risks undermining public confidence in law enforcement and due process.
Ohiri has publicly alleged that Umahi owes her ₦250 million for promotional materials she supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign in Ebonyi State. She has circulated photographs, video recordings and chat messages which she claims show direct dealings with the minister and evidence of transactions, including exercise books and table clocks bearing his image.
Umahi has denied the allegations, insisting he owes no such debt and rejecting claims of inappropriate conduct.
The dispute escalated after Ohiri was reportedly arrested in Lagos over allegations of cyberbullying and transferred to Abuja, where she was arraigned before a Magistrate Court and granted bail. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore later publicised a confrontation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja related to the case, drawing national attention.
While acknowledging that the minister is constitutionally presumed innocent, HURIWA argued that the gravity of the allegations — including claims relating to financial transactions and the alleged use of police processes against an accuser — demands a probe that is demonstrably independent of political influence.
According to the association, when accusations involve a serving cabinet member, public trust requires more than routine police investigation.
The group expressed concern over the reported involvement of Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, noting that he has previously faced public controversies and petitions during his service in Rivers State and in other assignments.
HURIWA stated that although no criminal conviction has been publicly recorded against the officer, the recurrence of past controversies heightens public sensitivity when his name surfaces in politically exposed matters.
The association stressed that its position does not amount to a declaration of guilt but is aimed at protecting institutional credibility.
Citing Sections 15(5), 17(2)(a) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, HURIWA argued that the State is obligated to abolish corrupt practices, guarantee equality before the law and ensure fair hearing before an impartial tribunal.
“If the minister maintains he never had dealings with the accuser, then a forensic examination of the digital materials, financial records, and testimonies from named associates would either validate his position or expose inconsistencies in the allegations,” the group stated.
HURIWA proposed that such an inquiry be conducted by a panel comprising independent forensic experts, civil society representatives and retired judicial officers, rather than relying solely on internal police review.
The association further urged the President to place the minister on temporary suspension or administrative leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation, stressing that such action would not amount to a presumption of guilt but would reinforce transparency and accountability.
According to HURIWA, Nigeria’s democracy can only command public trust when powerful office holders submit themselves to the same standards of scrutiny as ordinary citizens.
“The integrity of the police and the credibility of the executive branch are both at stake in the handling of this matter,” the statement concluded.
‘Suspend Umahi Now,’ HURIWA Urges Tinubu, Demands Independent Probe
