TDBusinesswoman Tracy Nither Nicholas Ohiri has once again raised alarm over her financial dispute with Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, claiming she has not received the payment owed to her despite earlier agreements.
In a new statement, Ohiri declared:
“I Haven’t Been Paid My Full Money Yet. Minister Dave Umahi used my lawyer, Barrister Marshall Abubakar, to trick me into making the retraction video to clear him. I was forced to make that video. The agreement was that once I made it, I would be paid before it was released to the public but instead, they released it without my consent and without paying me. Nigerians please come to my rescue.”
Background
Ohiri, a Lagos-based entrepreneur, previously accused Umahi of owing ₦250–₦300 million for promotional contracts and services.
She also alleged harassment, which drew widespread media attention and public debate.
In February, she collapsed and was hospitalized in Abuja amid the dispute, further intensifying scrutiny.
Shortly afterward, she issued a public retraction video, apologizing to Umahi and withdrawing her claims — a move she now insists was coerced.
Transcript Highlights
In the video, Ohiri repeatedly questions her lawyer, Barrister Marshall Abubakar (“Masha”), accusing him of coercion and betrayal:
- “Masha, where is my money? You forced me to do this video… You said I would be paid before it was released.”
- “You have ruined my name, my integrity… I can’t eat, I can’t sleep.”
- “Nigerian Bar Association, please look into this case. This is so unethical.”
She alleges that only $70,000 was given to her, far below the agreed settlement, while her lawyer collected his own fees.
She claims her video was released prematurely, without her consent, and without the promised payment.
Minister Dave Umahi
- Full Name: David Nweze Umahi
- Political Career:
- Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State (2011–2015)
- Governor of Ebonyi State (2015–2023)
- Senator for Ebonyi South (June–Aug 2023)
- Minister of Works (Aug 2023–present) under President Bola Tinubu
- Role: Oversees Nigeria’s major road and infrastructure projects, including highways and bridges critical to national development.
Key Takeaways
Tracy Ohiri’s renewed claims suggest the dispute remains unresolved, despite her earlier apology.
Allegations of coercion and unethical conduct by her lawyer raise questions about legal accountability and professional ethics.
The Nigerian Bar Association may face mounting pressure to investigate the matter, given her direct appeal.
Umahi, a high-profile political figure, has yet to publicly respond to these latest accusations, leaving the controversy open-ended.
See a transcript of the video below:
Barrister Masha, where is my money? Barrister Masha, where is my payment? You gave me a script, Masha. You forced me to do this video.
Every time you keep threatening me that if I did not do this video, you will take your hands off the case.
You said the person told you he’s God willing to pay me and compensate me for even arresting me and body shaming me in public. When he said, it’s not that someone else is looking anyhow.
Masha, where is my money? If you want me to ruin my personality and integrity, is it for $70,000? Masha, please, where is my payment?
You threaten me that you’ll go all out. You’ll come for me. You’ll do this to me. You’ll do that to me.
You will ensure I’m locked up. That is what you Masha said. Masha, where is my payment? Masha, where is my money?
Masha, how did you release the video without me collecting my money?
I gave you my videos in confidence. You said I should trust you and release my video to you. I gave you my video.
You told me that I would receive my payment before you released the video.
Masha, where is my money? Where is my payment? You cannot use me. You cannot use me, Masha. You have no integrity. You cannot use me. You cannot use me.
Where is my money? Masha, is this the agreement? Masha, is this the agreement?
Every time I disagree with Masha, I have to speak to my lawyers in Lagos. Masha said no. I have to talk to Nigerians. Masha said no.
I have to discuss it. Masha said no. Let me talk to Sho Wari. Masha said no. That if anybody hears about it, he will pull out his hand.
Masha, what was your interest? What was your two real motives, Masha? Masha, I need my permit. You have ruined my name, my integrity.
How about do I use a laundry container? What is $70,000? You messed me up. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep.
You have messed me up. Now you’re threatening my life. Marsha, please. I need my payment.
Nigerian Bar Association, please, with all due respect. Please, sir, look into this case.
This is so unethical. How can Marsha release my video against the agreement we had without me receiving my payment?
How can Marsha accept payment without calling me to tell me out of the 305 million, look at how much they gave you.
Marsha collected without calling me. Marsha collected all his own without calling me. Marsha give me my money.
Masha, give me my payments Masha, you forced me to do the video Masha, you make sure I do not speak to anybody, Masha.
You made sure I do not talk to anybody You kept on threatening me, Masha Give me my money Masha, I need my money Masha, while singing his conquest and praises and integrity… said he trained under you.
Please, sir, you are like a father to me Tell Masha to go and get me my money Tell Masha to release my money
There is something going on in Nigeria people have not yet realized. There are genuine activists in this country, but there are worse.
And genuine lawyers into activism, but there are worse with a true motive. Anytime any Nigerian has an issue, has a problem.
They want to take advantage of it. What they are calculating is not how to serve you.
What they are calculating is how much to make on your head. Masha, give me my money. Masha, give me my money.
You forced me to do this video. Masha, you forced me to do this video. You said my money will be paid in full.
Masha, you must keep to agreement.
I know you know all the chief judges. I know you know all the magistrates. And you say, you know, you will take me to a court where they will lock me up.
Masha, give me my money. Give me my money, Masha, and then lock me where you want to lock me.
Masha, give me my money. MBA, Nigerian Bar Association. The MBA president. Your lawyer.
Your lawyer Masha Abubakar forced me to do a video. Forced me not to speak to anybody.
Masha said my money will be paid in full. That my oppressor has swore with his mother’s grave.
Masha ended up giving me $70,000. What will I do with $70,000? He said that in March he collected his legal fee.
Please everybody should come and tell Masha, Nigerian Bar Association, tell Masha.
Masha said that the video will not be released until I have received a lot.
Masha said that the video will not be released until I have received my money in full.
Masha, how did you release the video without me receiving my payment? Come and tell Nigerians. Nigerians want to know.
They offer you this, you refuse. They offer you this, you refuse. Masha, you are not a good person.
I know what people are doing in this country. I know what is happening. I know what is happening.
This cooperation with some activists, so that if anybody is attacking, people use the platform and mess the person up.
I don’t have any platform about to see, I will not close my mouth.
This has to end. You cannot make money with me. You cannot make money.
I suffered for 12 years. I cried for 12 years. I lost my father. I need my payment. I need my payment.
MBS, MBA, please, come and, come and caution Masha to release my payment.
Mazi Afam, caution Masha to release my payment.
Baisa Famitomara, caution Masha to release, to stick to the agreement and release my payment.
Thank you, Nigerians.
I have all the videos where Masha said that I’ll be paid in full and I’ll be releasing them gradually.
While I got back once, that’s when it is necessary, I will release the bomb. Thank you.
