JOURNALIST ACCUSES ACTIVIST OF SMEAR CAMPAIGN TARGETING EZEKWESILI, AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN
Veteran journalist Maazi Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike has debunked explosive allegations by self-proclaimed activist Sandra Duru, accusing her of orchestrating a malicious blackmail campaign against former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking on Adeola Fayehun’s YouTube show on Monday, Akuwudike denied claims that Ezekwesili was paid to appear before a Senate Committee investigating sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Duru, popularly known as ‘Prof Mgbeke’, had alleged in a Facebook livestream that Akpoti-Uduaghan privately told her the harassment accusations were fabricated and that both Ezekwesili and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) were paid to intervene in her favour. Akuwudike firmly refuted these claims as “completely unsupported” and “false,” revealing that he was initially contracted by Duru with ₦2.5 million to produce videos discrediting Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He said he withdrew from the assignment after noticing inconsistencies and after Duru went public with the unfounded claims. He now views the campaign as a calculated attempt at blackmail. As of press time, neither Dr. Ezekwesili nor FIDA has issued a response.
