- Nigerian journalist Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya accuses UK-based businesswoman Sandra Duru, also known as Prof Mgbeke, of manipulating the narrative through blackmail and falsehood.
- Duru accused Senator Natasha of bribing her with N200 million to falsely accuse former Akwa Ibom governor Godswill Akpabio of organ harvesting, which has been denied, sparking public debate.
- Ogbonnaya claims Sandra Duru manipulated her into creating a defamatory voiceover to harm Senator Natasha’s image, using audio recordings and a scripted message.
In a dramatic turn of events surrounding the ongoing controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Nigerian journalist Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya has accused UK-based businesswoman Sandra Duru (also known as Prof Mgbeke) of orchestrating a campaign of blackmail and misinformation.
The scandal initially erupted after Duru claimed that Senator Natasha offered her N200 million to falsely accuse Akpabio of organ trafficking — a claim the senator has publicly denied.
However, Ogbonnaya has now come forward in a viral video, alleging that Duru approached her with fabricated audio clips and a scripted voiceover, aimed at destroying Senator Natasha’s reputation. Ogbonnaya claims she declined the offer to preserve her integrity.
“She wanted me to disrupt and destroy Natasha on a TV platform, but I refused. I’m a journalist and plan to run for office again, so I couldn’t compromise my integrity,” Ogbonnaya said.
Ogbonnaya further dismissed Duru’s claims that Natasha was conspiring against Yoruba leadership, questioning the logic behind the accusation.
“How can a minority from Kogi like the Igbira, who even lean towards the Yorubas, want to fight the Yoruba government? It doesn’t add up,” she stated.
She also clarified misleading interpretations in the audio recordings concerning allegations of sexual harassment. Ogbonnaya argued that the tapes actually reflect Senator Natasha recounting incidents of inappropriate remarks, rather than denying such experiences.
“She shared examples, like a top official saying, ‘You look good today.’ That’s suggestive, not denial,” she explained.
The journalist warned that any altered recordings released by Duru should be treated with skepticism.
“If Sandra releases anything different, she has doctored it. The real recordings don’t match her story,” she said.
On the topic of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Ogbonnaya denied that Natasha ever claimed to have “bought” the former minister, stating that the tapes only show appreciation for Ezekwesili’s support and advocacy for women.
Ogbonnaya also accused Duru of manipulating other political figures through blackmail, naming former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and current governor Hope Uzodinma as past targets.
“She told me she made Rochas governor and was blackmailing him. She did the same with Hope Uzodinma through his commissioner for international affairs,” Ogbonnaya alleged.
When asked if she was paid for her work, Ogbonnaya admitted receiving money: “Political audio is 500k. She offered 300k. I removed the incriminating parts, and she got angry. She rejected it and hired someone else.”
Calling on law enforcement, Ogbonnaya urged authorities to launch a formal investigation into Sandra Duru’s activities.
“Akpabio should be wary of her. I don’t know who she’s working for, Natasha or Akpabio. But Sandra is the one I know,” Ogbonnaya said.
“The evidence I’ve sent is just a tip of the iceberg. If she wants to challenge it, I’m ready to release the full conversations — especially those involving the big names she mentioned,” she concluded.
