The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has cautioned Nigerians against maligning the image of the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, over the alleged ₦24.5 million debt claim, warning that unverified accusations must not be allowed to destroy reputations or undermine due process.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the coalition’s National Spokesperson, Olawale Oladimeji, said the recent controversy involving activist Omoyele Sowore and the Minister had triggered widespread reactions on social media, but stressed that public commentary must not replace lawful procedures. He said COCSON’s internal review of the matter revealed “serious logical gaps” in the claims circulating online.
The dispute followed an incident on 25 February 2026 at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, where a confrontation reportedly occurred between Sowore and the Minister. A viral video shows Sowore accusing Umahi of misusing police authority in relation to an alleged private dispute involving Mrs Tracy Nicholas Ohiri.
At the centre of the controversy is a claim that the Minister owes ₦24.5 million for campaign materials allegedly supplied during the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election, while other narratives reference a separate figure of ₦250 million. COCSON said the conflicting sums alone cast doubt on the credibility of the allegation.
“Allegations without evidence cannot distract nation-building,” Oladimeji stated, insisting that transactions of such magnitude within a structured governorship campaign would ordinarily be backed by documentation. He questioned the absence of written contracts, delivery notes, acknowledgements of receipt or evidence of prior demand over the past decade, arguing that “transactions of that magnitude do not rest on verbal understanding alone”.
The coalition further noted that if the alleged transaction occurred in 2015, the appropriate avenue for redress would have been civil litigation, not a viral confrontation. “Legitimate claims are pursued through demand letters, arbitration and court filings, not viral recordings,” Oladimeji said, urging Nigerians to allow investigative authorities to handle the matter without emotional pressure or politicisation.
COCSON warned against what it described as the growing substitution of social media trials for judicial processes, stressing that “emotional appeal becomes evidence” when digital outrage replaces institutional scrutiny. While affirming citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, the coalition maintained that such rights must operate within the framework of legality and proof.
Defending the Minister’s public record, the group described Umahi’s leadership as infrastructure-focused, both during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State and in his current role overseeing federal road networks. It argued that reputations built over years of public service should not be “casually shredded without credible evidence”.
Rejecting what it termed “sensationalism disguised as activism”, the coalition called for restraint and adherence to due process. “If there is evidence, let it be presented in court. If there is documentation, let it be tested legally. If there is proof, let competent authorities adjudicate,” Oladimeji said.
As part of its response, COCSON announced it would organise a solidarity rally in support of the Minister on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, to counter a planned protest against him. The coalition urged Nigerians not to join any campaign aimed at condemning the Minister without proof, reiterating that “no citizen should be publicly condemned without evidence”.
“We reaffirm that no citizen is above the law. Equally, no citizen should be publicly condemned without proof,” Oladimeji concluded, emphasising that justice must remain evidence-driven and that governance should not be derailed by unverified allegations.