News
Tracy Ohiri: Coalition backs Works Minister, plans solidarity rally
Cyril Ogar
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, acknowledgments 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 emphasized 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.”
News
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured7 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
