In a surprising turn of events, Nigerian journalist Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya has accused Sandra Duru, a UK-based businesswoman, of attempting to hire her for a plot to tarnish the reputation of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a video that has since gone viral, Olisa, who is based in Nigeria, claimed that Sandra Duru, also known as Prof Mgbeke, tried to hire her to create a voiceover filled with defamatory content about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The journalist described how Duru handed her audio recordings and a script that would have painted the senator in a false light. However, Olisa refused to participate in the scheme, citing her professional ethics as a journalist and her personal political aspirations.
“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,” Olisa stated in the video.
Olisa went on to explain that Sandra’s scheme included spreading false information about the senator, including claims that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had ambitions to bring down the Yoruba government, a statement that Olisa found implausible.
“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?” Olisa questioned.
The journalist also disputed Sandra’s claims about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s stance on sexual harassment. According to Olisa, the audio recordings Sandra provided did not suggest any denial of sexual harassment by the senator. Instead, the content suggested that Senator Natasha had been subjected to inappropriate comments.
“She mentioned in the audio that sometimes when they go out, the big man will say ‘you look good today’,” Ogbonnaya clarified, questioning the integrity of any future recordings Sandra might release.
Furthermore, Olisa denied Sandra’s claims that Senator Natasha had made derogatory statements about former minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili. Olisa stated that in the audio recordings, the senator thanked God for Dr. Ezekwesili’s support and mentioned her efforts to address women’s issues.
Olisa also alleged that Sandra Duru had a history of blackmailing political figures, claiming that she had manipulated both Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and former Governor Rochas Okorocha. Olisa even accused Sandra of bragging about playing a key role in making Okorocha governor, and blackmailing Uzodinma through the state’s Commissioner for International Affairs.
In response to questions about payment for her participation in the scheme, Olisa confirmed that Sandra had offered her money to produce the manipulated voiceover. “Political audio is 500k, she priced 300k! I removed the places that could implicate us. She got angry that I removed her lies. She rejected the audio and refused to use my voice, so she went to someone else,” Olisa revealed.
The journalist has called for a full investigation into the matter and urged the police to take action. “Let the police do their job,” Olisa said, warning Senator Akpabio to be cautious about Duru’s intentions. She also noted that she had more evidence that could expose Sandra’s actions. “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,” Olisa added.
