Chief Obinna Ude Nkama has publicly apologized to Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, retracting earlier allegations that the minister owed him ₦7 million for a job he claimed to have executed.
The apology was contained in a press statement issued on Monday by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Works.
Ude had earlier circulated a video on social media alleging that the minister was indebted to him, a claim that gained traction online around the same period a similar allegation was also made by a woman identified as Tracy.
However, following what the statement described as a thorough verification and review of the matter, it was established that Ude never had any contractual engagement with the minister and that Umahi was not indebted to him in any form.
Having realised the facts, Ude publicly withdrew his allegations and apologised for what he described as a misleading and malicious claim made out of frustration.
In a video released on Sunday, Ude admitted that his earlier comments were made in anger and expressed regret over the incident.
“I am Chief Obinna Ude Nkama, who made a derogatory post that has been trending over the malicious outburst I made against my leader out of anger and frustration,” he said.
He added that the minister was not owing him directly and described Umahi as “a man of high integrity and a very good man,” while pleading for forgiveness.
Ude also stressed that the apology video was made voluntarily and not under pressure from any individual or authority, adding that he was prepared to face legal consequences should he repeat such allegations in the future.
The statement urged members of the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information on social media, noting that not every trending allegation online is supported by credible evidence.
It further stated that Umahi remains focused on his national assignment of transforming Nigeria’s road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.