The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has dismissed allegations circulating online against the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, describing the claims as contradictory, unsupported by evidence, and potentially destabilising.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the coalition cautioned Nigerians against what it described as “trial by social media,” urging the public to rely on verifiable facts and established legal processes rather than emotionally charged online narratives.
COCSON’s spokesperson, Olawale Oladimeji, said the controversy followed an encounter between the minister and rights activist Omoyele Sowore at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command on February 25, 2026.
According to the coalition, viral claims allege that Umahi owes ₦24.5 million for campaign materials related to the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election, while other versions of the story cite a figure as high as ₦250 million.
COCSON described these conflicting amounts as a major red flag that undermines the credibility of the accusations.
Following an internal review, the coalition questioned the commercial logic of the claims, stressing that political transactions involving such sums are ordinarily backed by formal documentation.
“Where is the written contract? Where are the delivery notes? Where is the acknowledgment of receipt?” Oladimeji asked, adding that transactions of that magnitude cannot reasonably rely on verbal agreements alone.
COCSON also faulted the timing of the allegations, noting that they surfaced nearly a decade after the alleged transaction.
The group maintained that Nigeria’s legal system provides clear avenues for civil debt recovery, insisting that any genuine claim should be pursued in court rather than through online campaigns.
Warning of the broader implications, the coalition stated that social media should not be used as a substitute for judicial processes.
“When emotion becomes evidence and public sympathy becomes strategy, the consequences are dangerous,” Oladimeji said.
Defending the minister’s public record, COCSON said Umahi’s performance, both as a former governor and in his current role overseeing major federal road projects, reflects what it described as “infrastructure-driven leadership.
It argued that an official supervising multi-billion-naira projects is unlikely to be entangled in undocumented financial disputes from years past.While reaffirming that public officials must remain open to scrutiny, the coalition warned against damaging reputations without credible proof.
It also rejected what it termed “sensationalism disguised as activism,” urging all parties to allow investigators to complete their work without political or public pressure.
“If there is evidence, let it be presented in court. If there is documentation, let it be tested legally,” the group said, emphasising that private disputes should be resolved through lawful channels.
COCSON further announced plans to stage a solidarity rally on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in support of the minister, in response to a planned protest against him.
The coalition called on Nigerians to resist emotional manipulation and uphold the rule of law.“No citizen is above the law. Equally, no citizen should be publicly condemned without proof,” the group declared.
