Journalist and activist, Maazi Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is the political and financial sponsor of self-acclaimed activist, Sandra Duru, also known as “Prof Mgbeke.”
Speaking on Adeola Fayehun’s YouTube programme, Obinna described Duru’s recent activities as part of a well-coordinated campaign to attack and discredit perceived critics of the Senate President.
Obinna revealed that during a private conversation, Sandra Duru confided in him that her advocacy efforts were backed by the wife of Senator Godswill Akpabio. He further disclosed that he was paid ₦2.5 million by Duru to produce a series of videos targeted at tarnishing the image of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, he said he began to suspect a deeper agenda when he noticed inconsistencies in her claims and the nature of the material she wanted produced.
“It became clear to me that the assignment was part of a calculated blackmail agenda,” Obinna stated. He described Duru’s narrative, including the claim that Senator Natasha had privately denied the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio and that Dr. Oby Ezekwesili was paid to appear before a Senate panel, as false and misleading. According to him, the audio Duru circulated contained no such admissions.
Obinna insisted that the campaign was designed to shield Akpabio from public scrutiny while discrediting women leaders and civil society figures who dared to question him. He said Duru’s tactics relied on unverified claims and emotional manipulation to sway public opinion in favour of the Senate President.
This is not the first time Sandra Duru’s ties to powerful figures have been called into question. Frances Ogbonnaya, the first whistleblower in the unfolding saga, had previously accused Duru of acting under the protection of top politicians. While Frances stopped short of naming names, Obinna’s testimony now directly implicates Senator Godswill Akpabio as the key figure behind Duru’s controversial campaigns.
