On March 8, 2026, Segun O’Law, a journalist and Chief Executive Officer of Objectv Media, alleged that he received a threatening WhatsApp message from Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Mr David Nweze Umahi, in Lagos. O’Law said the message accused him of secretly recording a meeting between the Minister and delegates from WinHomes Estate, led by Stella Ukengu, and sharing it without consent. The sender demanded a public apology “on his terms” and implied consequences if the demand was not met.
According to media reports, O’Law confirmed that the number belonged to the Minister and described the message as a direct threat intended to pressure him into retracting or suppressing evidence from the meeting. The dispute originated from protests in August 2025 over the Lagos–Calabar coastal road realignment, which affected WinHomes Estate and other properties. During the protest, O’Law had recorded discussions between the Minister and the delegates, capturing statements that contradicted the Minister’s later public claims.
He said the Minister’s message was part of a broader intimidation, noting prior reports of aggressive actions during Umahi’s tenure as Ebonyi State Governor. Reports added that O’Law took precautions after receiving warnings that his phone might be tracked and decided to make the threat public for reasons of personal safety and accountability. However, the Minister of Works had not responded publicly to the allegations as of the press briefing on March 12, 2026.
O’Law explained that the message was particularly alarming because it came after he had taken steps to secure his communications, including changing his device and SIM card, following warnings that his phone could be tracked. He described the tone and content of the message as an attempt to intimidate him into bending to the Minister’s demands and suppressing material that exposed the Minister’s actions regarding the WinHomes Estate dispute.
He emphasised that, as a journalist, his role is to document facts and protect evidence, not to target public officials, but the direct threat from a sitting Minister made it necessary to alert the public. O’Law said he shared the incident to safeguard press freedom and his personal safety while ensuring transparency about the Minister’s conduct toward those who challenge him.
