COCSON DEFENDS UMAHI AGAINST SOWORE’S ₦24.5M CLAIM: DIGITAL OUTRAGE OR LEGAL MATTER?

COCSON DEFENDS UMAHI AGAINST SOWORE’S ₦24.5M CLAIM: DIGITAL OUTRAGE OR LEGAL MATTER?

Abuja – The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has hit back at activist Omoyele Sowore, calling his recent accusations against Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, a “dangerous substitution of social media outrage for due process.”

Speaking to journalists, COCSON National Spokesperson Olawale Oladimeji slammed what he described as a viral attempt to tarnish Umahi’s reputation over claims that he owes ₦24.5 million for campaign materials from the 2015 Ebonyi State governorship election. The story, now inflated online to as much as ₦250 million, was branded “inconsistent and suspicious” by the coalition.

“Where is the contract? Where are the delivery notes? Where is proof of immediate demand?” Oladimeji asked, questioning why a nearly decade-old claim is suddenly trending on social media. “Transactions of that magnitude do not rely on verbal whispers. Yet here we are, witnessing trial by viral video.”

COCSON accused Sowore of weaponizing social media to replace Nigeria’s legal system. “Emotional appeal becomes evidence. Public sympathy becomes strategy. This is dangerous,” the coalition warned.

Highlighting Umahi’s record as Ebonyi State governor and current federal minister supervising multi-billion naira infrastructure projects, the coalition argued it’s unlikely that a proven public servant would be tangled in undocumented financial disputes from 2015.

COCSON also announced a solidarity rally for Umahi on March 3, 2026, urging Nigerians to “shame Sowore and his cohorts” instead of joining protests against the minister.

“If there’s evidence, let the courts handle it. If not, don’t let digital mobs destroy reputations,” the coalition declared, underlining its stance that justice must be evidence-driven, not sentiment-driven.