The Chief Executive Officer of Objectv Media, Segun O’Law, has accused Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, of issuing what he described as a threatening message over a video recording linked to a controversial meeting involving the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project.
Speaking during a press briefing held on March 12, 2026, at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos, O’Law alleged that the minister sent him a WhatsApp message demanding a public apology over what he described as a secretly recorded conversation.
According to the journalist, the message was sent from a number that later identified itself as belonging to the minister.
“U came to my office and secretly videoed our conversations and shared. U have no right to do that with all the respect I gave to u. I thought that by now, u would have repented and publicly apologize to me,” O’Law quoted the minister as saying in the message.
O’Law said he responded politely and expressed willingness to discuss the issue, but claimed the minister insisted that the only acceptable step was a public apology on his own terms.
“This is HMW and I will not do any conversation with you other than my request above,” the minister reportedly replied.
The media executive said the issue stems from an August 2025 protest at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja over the controversial realignment of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project, which allegedly affected properties including the WinHomes Estate.
O’Law explained that he attended a meeting between protest representatives and the minister in his capacity as a journalist observer. He said he had activated a discreet recording device during the engagement as a precaution, citing previous experiences covering protests that turned violent.
According to him, the minister allegedly made statements during the meeting suggesting the government would not restore the land belonging to the CEO of WinHomes, Mrs. Stella Ukengu, and that the remaining portion might be used for other infrastructure projects.
“During the meeting, the Minister’s first utterances was to brag; ‘I’m a dangerous man,’” O’Law said.
He added that the recording later became relevant after the minister reportedly denied some of the earlier commitments during a subsequent media briefing at the project site in Okun Ajah, Lagos.
O’Law said he eventually shared the footage with the affected property owner to clarify what transpired during the meeting, stressing that he personally did not publish the video on his own platforms.
“As a journalist, my responsibility is to document facts and expose the truth, particularly when public officials contradict themselves,” he said.
The journalist also called for public and international attention over his safety, urging people to monitor his media platforms.
“If I stop posting for more than 48 hours without explanation, and there is no nationwide network disruption, I urge the public to immediately raise concerns and investigate my safety,” he said.
O’Law maintained that he has no personal disputes that could justify harm against him and said he remains committed to press freedom.
“I remain unbowed and committed to truth and justice,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, had not publicly responded to the allegations made during the press briefing.
