NEWS ANALYSIS: David Umahi and his alleged N250 million debt — by Bamidele Johnson

You cannot put anything beyond the Nigerian big man. Nothing. And this is about David Umahi, a woman, Tracynither Ohiri, alleges owes her millions for an executed contract and that dispute is entangled with claims of inappropriate advances.

If a debt exists, it should be paid. Full stop. Ministerial office ain’t legal tender. But we need to tighten the screws properly. First, what was there a formal agreement; a signed contract; SLA or whatever? What did it stipulate about scope, milestones and payment structure? Advance? Mobilisation fee? Completion certificate? Variations?

No serious vendor parts with millions of naira on feelings and political proximity except she is doing philanthropy with a blindfold. From her account, that contract was the first she was having with Umahi.

And if she did spend that amount without a written framework, then she ran her bloodied leg over a crocodile tank.

Contracting ain’t romantic thriller. It is paperwork, stamps and bank guarantees. You do not mobilise hundreds of millions on vibes. If she did that she was unprotected and I hope the nookie Umahi allegedly asked for was not of the unprotected variety.

On the other hand, if there was an agreement and the work was executed, then withholding payment becomes something else entirely. It stops being “a misunderstanding” and starts looking like muscle-flexing. Power, in this country, has a habit of confusing itself with immunity.

The sexual allegation, if true, worsens everything. A public office holder allegedly linking financial obligation with access to a woman’s body is not swagger. It is reputational arson. And even if untrue, the optics alone are corrosive. High office should not be dragged into bedroom rumours.

A governor who moved billions like chess pieces and now a minister should have no problem paying up. He needn’t pay the money from his pocket. He could get one contractor, like the one that built the virtually useless Ebonyi airport, to pay. Or Hi-Tech or any other one. They would pay from the mint they have made and without wincing.

If Umahi owes, he should pay. Promptly. If he does not, he should publish the contract and shut the matter down with documents, not indignation and garaje. One does not know if the woman had attempted using the courts to get her money from Umahi and what happened at that stage. That may help her case.