In a startling revelation that has further stoked controversy in Nigeria’s political scene, a journalist, Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya, has accused UK-based Nigerian businesswoman, Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof Mgbeke, of orchestrating a smear campaign against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The exposé comes on the heels of Duru’s earlier claims that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to bribe her with N200 million to fabricate an allegation of organ harvesting against Senate President Godswill Akpabio — an allegation the senator has since denied.
In a viral video that surfaced over the weekend, Ogbonnaya alleged that Duru contacted her with a request to produce a defamatory voiceover targeting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
According to the journalist, Duru provided her with audio recordings and a script designed to discredit the Kogi Central lawmaker.
“She wanted me to disrupt and destroy Natasha at the TV station she wanted me to go to on her behalf but not be neutral.
“I refused because I am a journalist and have plans to run for office like I did before, so I cannot do it,” Ogbonnaya stated.
Ogbonnaya, who disclosed that she declined the assignment on ethical grounds, said some of the allegations in the script included claims that the senator was working against the Yoruba political establishment — a narrative she described as baseless.
“How can a Kogi; Igbira who are minority with no alliances and even tilted to the Yorubas now say that? A Kogi person is a minority in Nigeria, so what will she gain by fighting the Yoruba government?” she queried.
She also challenged Duru’s claims about the senator’s position on sexual harassment, insisting that the audio recordings she received reflected otherwise.
“In the audios she sent to me, Senator Natasha never mentioned anything about there being no sexual harassment,” she said, adding that the senator actually recounted instances suggestive of harassment.
“She mentioned in the audio that sometimes when they go out, the big man will say ‘you look good today’.”
On the topic of former Minister Oby Ezekwesili, Ogbonnaya refuted suggestions that Senator Natasha had claimed to have “bought” her. Instead, she maintained that the senator expressed gratitude for Ezekwesili’s support, especially concerning women’s issues.
The journalist further accused Duru of a pattern of blackmail, alleging that she had similarly manipulated political figures such as Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha.
“Sandra even told me that she made Rochas a governor. She was blackmailing the man. She blackmailed Hope (Imo governor) through the commissioner for international affairs,” Ogbonnaya claimed.
She confirmed receiving payment for an audio production job but said she edited out parts she deemed defamatory, leading Duru to reject the final product.
“Political audio is 500k, she priced 300k! I removed the places that could implicate us. She got angry that I removed her lies,” she said.
Ogbonnaya has since called on law enforcement to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“Let the police do their job,” she urged, warning Senate President Akpabio to be cautious of Duru’s “shady character.”
“The evidence I have sent to you now are a tip of the iceberg… If she wants us to release conversations, I am ready. Especially the big names she mentioned there. Let her remember that,” she concluded.
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