CSO COALITION SUPPORTS UMAHI, URGES END TO SOCIAL MEDIA PROSECUTION
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) on Saturday came out strongly in defence of the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, describing recent allegations against him as “sensational, contradictory, and lacking evidence.”
At a press briefing in Abuja, the coalition warned against what it termed the rising trend of “trial by social media,” emphasizing that accusations should be examined in courts, not circulated through viral videos.
The statement follows an incident on February 25, 2026, at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command involving activist Omoyele Sowore and Minister Umahi. A video widely shared online shows Sowore accusing the minister of misusing police authority in connection with a private financial dispute allegedly tied to the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election. The claim involves an asserted ₦24.5 million debt for campaign materials reportedly supplied during that election.
COCSON noted that conflicting narratives, including a figure of ₦250 million, have also surfaced online, creating what it called “serious inconsistencies.”
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, National Spokesperson Olawale Oladimeji stated that an independent internal review by COCSON revealed “logical gaps” in the allegations circulating online.
He questioned: “If goods worth ₦24.5 million were truly supplied in 2015, where is the written contract? Where are the delivery notes or acknowledgements of receipt? Why was no documented demand made immediately after the election? Why wait nearly a decade to raise the issue publicly?”
Oladimeji stressed that political campaigns operate through formal procurement procedures, documented approvals, and financial oversight. Transactions of such scale, he noted, do not rely solely on verbal agreements.
The coalition also questioned the timing of the allegations, pointing out that Nigeria’s legal system provides established procedures for pursuing civil debts.
“Legitimate claims are addressed through demand letters, arbitration, and court filings — not viral videos,” Oladimeji said. “Allegations emerging many years later, without evidence of prior legal pursuit, naturally invite scrutiny.”
While reaffirming Nigerians’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, COCSON cautioned that such rights must operate within legal and evidential boundaries.
“Social media is not a court of law. Emotional appeal is not evidence. Public sympathy is not proof,” the coalition stated.
The group urged that investigative authorities be allowed to conduct lawful inquiries without politicisation, noting that the minister’s office has indicated the matter is under review.
“If there is a contractual dispute between private parties, it remains a civil matter. Civil disputes belong in courtrooms, not in viral public confrontations,” the coalition added.
COCSON also warned against framing the issue with unverified emotional or gender-based narratives, arguing that advocacy loses credibility when not grounded in facts.
Defending Umahi’s public record, the coalition highlighted his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State and his current role overseeing major federal road infrastructure projects, describing the Federal Ministry of Works as central to national economic growth and interstate commerce.
“A leader responsible for supervising multi-billion naira infrastructure projects is unlikely to be involved in undocumented financial disputes dating back nearly a decade,” Oladimeji said.
The coalition announced plans to hold a solidarity rally in support of the minister on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, calling it a counter-mobilisation to a separate protest planned against him. COCSON urged Nigerians to resist emotional manipulation and allow due process to proceed.
“We reaffirm that no citizen is above the law. Equally, no citizen should be publicly condemned without proof. Justice must be evidence-driven. Governance must not be derailed by distraction,” it concluded.
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