Tracy Nicolas Ohiri, the businesswoman whose arrest caused a national outcry over the alleged use of police power by political elites, has been released on bail following a dramatic standoff between civil rights activists and security officials.
The release marks the end of a multi-day ordeal that saw Ohiri transferred from Lagos to Abuja, a health crisis in custody, and allegations of “forged” detention papers. The dispute reportedly stems from a conflict involving Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi.
The legal proceedings began at the Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Despite stiff opposition from the police prosecutor, Presiding Magistrate Ope Ibraheem ruled that Ohiri was entitled to bail under the law.
However, the path to her actual release was marred by what supporters described as a “brazen assault on due process.” Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who stood as one of the sureties, alleged that a high-level conspiracy attempted to bypass the court’s order.
“The police prosecutor mobilised Correctional officials, and immediate attempts were made within the system to secure a fake detention or remand order that would override the bail already granted,” Sowore stated. “The police sent a contingent of armed policemen to spirit her to prison until members of the Take It Back Movement resisted their efforts.”
The situation took a dire turn when Ohiri collapsed while still in custody. According to eyewitnesses and civic actors present, a second confrontation occurred at the Wuse District Hospital.
Activists claim that even as Ohiri received emergency treatment, Correctional officers attempted to forcibly remove her for “profiling” at a facility in Keffi.
“Rather than prioritize her health, Correctional officers resisted allowing her to receive proper medical attention,” Sowore reported. “It took the sustained presence and intervention of concerned citizens at the hospital to ensure that she was not forcibly removed and that her medical needs were respected.”
The case has reignited a fierce debate over the Nigerian criminal justice system. Advocates for Ohiri claim to have uncovered evidence that her detention documentation was irregularly processed and potentially forged, a tactic they say is used to bypass judicial oversight and prolong the detention of citizens.
Senator Ireti Kingibe was among the high-profile figures who intervened at the hospital, ensuring Ohiri could eventually reunite with her children and continue her medical recovery.
In a public statement following the release, the legal team led by Marshal D.F. Abubakar and various civic organisations called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to end the use of “SLAPP” (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) tactics.
The coalition’s primary demands include the immediate discontinuation of the trial against Tracy Ohiri and an end to the use of the Cybercrime Act to harass citizens over “criminal defamation.” Furthermore, they are calling for greater accountability for police units operating at the behest of powerful political interests.
“The good news today is that Tracy Ohiri is free, not because the system worked seamlessly, but because citizens refused to look away,” Sowore concluded. “Nigeria deserves a police institution that protects the vulnerable, not one shielding only the powerful.”
