The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has criticised human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, over his role in amplifying allegations against the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi.

The coalition described the claims against the minister by businesswoman, Tracy Nicolas Ohiri as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence.

Sowore, a human rights activist, accused the police of abusing their powers by allegedly turning what he termed a civil dispute into a criminal matter in order to persecute the businesswoman.

According to him, Ohiri had last year accused Umahi of owing her N250 million and also alleged that he made sexual advances towards her several years ago.

Ohiri was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and brought to Abuja.

There was drama on Thursday at the Wuse 6 Magistrate Court in Abuja, as the defendant and some activists protested her arrest during proceedings.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the National Spokesperson of COCSON, Olawale Oladimeji said its independent review of the matter revealed what it termed “serious inconsistencies” in the narratives circulating online.

The group noted that while some accounts referenced N250 million, others mentioned N24.5 million allegedly owed for campaign materials supplied during the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election.

The coalition questioned the absence of documentary evidence to back the claims, including written contracts, delivery notes, acknowledgements of receipt and proof of previous demands for payment.

“Governorship campaigns operate through structured committees and documented procurement processes. Transactions of such magnitude do not rest on verbal understanding alone,” the group said.

COCSON also raised concerns about the timing of the allegations, noting that if the transaction allegedly occurred in 2015, it was unclear why the matter resurfaced publicly in 2026 without evidence of prior legal action.

“Nigeria’s judicial system provides clear avenues for civil debt recovery. Legitimate claims are pursued through demand letters, arbitration and court filings, not viral videos,” Oladimeji stated.

The coalition urged all parties to allow due process to take its course, stressing that public agitation and social media campaigns cannot replace structured legal inquiry.

It maintained that if there is indeed a contractual dispute, it remains a civil matter that should be resolved in court rather than through what it described as “public spectacle and reputational warfare”.

While acknowledging the right of citizens to freedom of expression and the importance of holding public officials accountable, COCSON warned against what it called the weaponisation of social media to influence public perception without verifiable proof.

The group cautioned that sensitive allegations, including claims of sexual misconduct, must be handled with responsibility and supported by evidence to preserve the integrity of legitimate advocacy.

Reaffirming its support for Umahi, the coalition described the minister’s public record from his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State to his current oversight of federal road projects, as “performance-driven”.

It announced plans to organise a solidarity rally in support of the Minister on March 3, 2026, to counter a planned protest against him.

“We reaffirm that no citizen is above the law. Equally, no citizen should be publicly condemned without proof. Justice must be evidence-driven, and governance must not be derailed by politically motivated distractions,” the coalition stated.