“I am Bigger Than a Minister”: Senator Kingibe Vows Intervention in N250m Dispute Between Umahi and Businesswoman

​In a bold display of legislative oversight and personal advocacy, Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) has stepped into the brewing legal storm involving the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and Abuja-based businesswoman Tracy Ohiri.

​Senator Kingibe visited Ohiri following the latter’s recent arrest and subsequent arraignment, which stemmed from allegations that the Minister refused to settle a debt of N250 million. The Senator’s visit was captured in a widely circulated video by TV Platinum, where she offered a blunt assessment of the political hierarchy and her intent to resolve the impasse.

​A Pledge of Legislative Weight

​Addressing Ohiri directly, Senator Kingibe emphasized her status as a lawmaker to provide assurance of her influence. In a quote that has since sparked conversation across social media, she stated:

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​”I am not a minister; I am a senator. I am bigger than a minister. Let them send me the documents; I will attach those documents and I will write to him.”

​The Senator expressed confidence that the N250 million in question is an amount the Minister can comfortably settle, urging for a swift end to the legal hostilities. “I know him; he can afford to pay you N250 million. Let this matter just end. I will intervene,” she added.

​Background of the Dispute

​The conflict reached a boiling point last week when Tracy Ohiri was reportedly picked up by security operatives and hauled before a court. Her legal troubles began after she went public with claims that she was owed for services rendered to the Minister—claims that the Ministry of Works has yet to formally validate or settle in the public eye.

​The intervention of the FCT Senator marks a significant escalation in the case. By framing the issue as one requiring her direct mediation, Kingibe is positioning herself as a buffer between the power of the executive branch and a constituent claiming victimization.

​What Comes Next?

​Senator Kingibe’s promise to “write to him” suggests that a formal letter of inquiry or mediation will be dispatched to the Ministry of Works in the coming days. Whether Minister Umahi will respond to this legislative “big sister” approach or allow the judicial process to run its course remains to be seen.

​For now, the Senator’s intervention provides a glimmer of hope for Ohiri, whose arrest has raised questions regarding the use of state apparatus in private or contractual disputes