The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force has come under scrutiny following allegations that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, was involved in events surrounding the detention of a woman who accused him of owing her N250 million.
The woman, identified as Tracy Nither Nicolas Ohiri, was reportedly arrested in Lagos on allegations of cyberbullying, transported to Abuja, and detained at the FCT Police Command.
According to sources, the dispute originated from claims made by Ohiri that Umahi had owed her N250 million for more than 12 years. She also allegedly accused the minister of making inappropriate advances toward her in the past. Observers note that such claims, particularly those relating to debt, are typically civil matters handled through the courts.
However, the situation reportedly escalated when the allegations were framed as cyberbullying, leading to her arrest and detention.
Sources present at the command alleged that during her detention, a meeting was convened within a conference room at the police facility where Umahi was in attendance. It was claimed that the minister confronted the woman during the session.
An eyewitness said the meeting was abruptly discontinued when other individuals arrived at the command. “The interaction ended immediately, and the minister left the premises,” the source stated.
Following the incident, police authorities allegedly declined to grant the woman bail. It was further alleged that as he departed, Umahi made remarks interpreted as a warning to the detainee.
As of press time, the FCT Police Command had not issued an official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest, interstate transfer, detention, or the minister’s presence at the facility. Efforts to obtain comments from Umahi were also unsuccessful.
Legal practitioners have expressed concern over the criminalisation of what appears to be a civil dispute, while rights advocates are questioning the propriety of the arrest and detention process.
The incident has reignited debate over due process, the boundaries between civil and criminal matters, and the role of law enforcement in disputes involving public officials.