How Sandra Duru Hired Me to Blackmail Senator Natasha – Journalist Confesses
In what many are calling a dramatic twist in Nigeria’s media and political landscape, Nigerian journalist Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya has publicly accused UK-based businesswoman Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof Mgbeke, of hiring her to create a defamatory narrative against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a video that has since gone viral, Ogbonnaya details how she was approached by Duru to produce audio content aimed at damaging the senator’s image, a request she claims to have turned down in the interest of preserving her integrity.
The controversy centers around an earlier allegation made by Sandra Duru in which she accused Senator Natasha of offering her N200 million to falsely accuse the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of organ harvesting. The senator has denied the allegation outright, and many in the public had questioned the basis and motivation behind such a serious accusation.
Now, with Ogbonnaya’s confession, the tide appears to be turning.
According to Ogbonnaya, Sandra Duru presented her with fabricated audio recordings and a pre-written script that she was supposed to use to create a damaging voiceover against Senator Natasha. “She wanted me to destroy Natasha’s reputation on a television platform. She gave me a full script and wanted me to act like the voice of truth,” Ogbonnaya said in the now-viral video.
Ogbonnaya explained that Duru’s request was not just about making a controversial media appearance, but part of a coordinated smear campaign. “She was desperate to destroy Natasha. She said it plainly. But I refused. I’m a journalist, and I plan to run for office again someday. My integrity matters more than money,” she stated.
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She described how the audio tapes used as alleged evidence against Senator Natasha were edited and manipulated to serve a false narrative. “Sandra brought me clips and said I should use them to construct a story that will implicate Natasha. But after reviewing the clips, I realized they weren’t what she claimed. They were mostly conversations taken out of context,” Ogbonnaya revealed.
A particular point of contention was the interpretation of a voice recording supposedly involving Senator Natasha denying experiences of sexual harassment. Ogbonnaya debunked this interpretation, stating instead that the recordings showed the senator recounting incidents where high-ranking individuals made suggestive remarks.
“She mentioned, for instance, that a senior official told her, ‘You look good today.’ That’s suggestive. But instead of being seen as an admission or denial, Sandra tried to twist it into something else entirely,” Ogbonnaya clarified.
The journalist also responded to claims that Natasha was working against Yoruba leadership, a theory propagated by Duru to stoke ethnic tensions. “How can someone from a minority ethnic group in Kogi, like the Igbira, who even historically leans toward the Yoruba politically, be plotting against Yoruba leadership? It simply doesn’t add up,” Ogbonnaya countered.
She further addressed another component of the controversy involving Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian minister and vocal advocate for women’s rights. Ogbonnaya clarified that nowhere in the original conversations did Natasha claim to have “bought” Ezekwesili’s support. Instead, she noted that Natasha only expressed gratitude for the former minister’s advocacy.
Ogbonnaya also alleged that Sandra Duru has a track record of using blackmail to manipulate political figures, mentioning former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and current governor Hope Uzodinma. “Sandra told me herself that she made Rochas governor and had blackmail material on him. She said she was also manipulating Uzodinma through his commissioner for international affairs,” she said.
The journalist claimed that Duru had offered her a payment of ₦300,000 to execute the audio production. “Usually, political audio content like that goes for ₦500,000. She offered ₦300,000, and I accepted with the intention to sanitize the material. I removed the incriminating and obviously false parts,” she said. However, that move didn’t sit well with Duru, who later rejected Ogbonnaya’s final work and allegedly sought out someone else to produce a more defamatory version.
“She got angry when she realized I wouldn’t go all the way. She wanted that damaging effect. When I sent her the edited version, which was ethically filtered, she said it was useless and went ahead to hire someone else who would do her bidding,” Ogbonnaya explained.
According to Ogbonnaya, her refusal to fully comply with Duru’s blackmail strategy has since drawn threats and pressure. Nonetheless, she insists she is willing to provide more evidence to authorities and the public if Sandra Duru attempts to manipulate the narrative again.
“She should be very careful. If she dares release anything, it will be a doctored version. The real recordings don’t align with the lies she’s pushing. I have the full files, and I’m ready to release them if necessary — especially the parts where she name-drops powerful individuals,” she warned.
Ogbonnaya expressed serious concern over the implications of Duru’s actions on Nigeria’s political climate. “This is beyond Natasha or Akpabio. It’s about using falsehood to hijack public discourse, to ruin people’s lives and careers for personal gain. That’s dangerous.”
She called on the police and relevant agencies to open an investigation into Duru’s activities and her alleged history of political manipulation through blackmail and audio fabrication. “The authorities need to step in. Akpabio should also be wary of her. I don’t even know who she’s really working for — Natasha or Akpabio. But I know she approached me, and I know what she asked me to do,” Ogbonnaya insisted.
Her revelations have sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s media and political circles, with many expressing outrage at the ease with which media narratives can be manipulated using technology and money.
In the aftermath of the video, reactions have poured in from both the media and political analysts. Some are calling for an overhaul in the regulation of media content and more stringent enforcement of cybercrime laws, especially regarding defamation, fake news, and political manipulation.
Critics of Sandra Duru have pointed to previous controversies surrounding her, noting that this is not the first time she has been accused of engaging in questionable political schemes. However, her supporters argue that she is being framed by individuals trying to divert attention from their own scandals.
Meanwhile, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has maintained a dignified silence, choosing not to respond directly to Duru’s claims. However, close allies say she is considering legal action if Duru continues her campaign of character assassination.
As the political temperature continues to rise in anticipation of the 2027 elections, the scandal has become a cautionary tale about the dark underbelly of Nigeria’s information warfare, where influence, money, and access to media tools are used as weapons.
Ogbonnaya’s confession is also likely to influence the public perception of the ongoing rivalry between Natasha and certain powerful figures in the Senate. It sheds light on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that many suspect but rarely have proof of — a glimpse into how media can be manipulated to advance political agendas and how even journalists can become tools in these battles.
What’s even more disturbing is the potential chilling effect this scandal might have on legitimate whistleblowers and journalists trying to hold powerful people accountable. When real stories are buried under layers of paid-for misinformation, public trust is eroded, and democracy suffers.
Ogbonnaya, however, appears undeterred. She says she is determined to stand her ground, and her decision to go public is part of a broader effort to cleanse the profession and make people more aware of the pressures journalists face.
“There are people who think we’re all for sale, that because we write or produce content, we should also serve as tools for blackmail and destruction. But that’s not journalism. That’s not what I signed up for. I won’t be part of it,” she said.
In closing, the journalist reiterated her willingness to testify if called upon and said she was keeping all original recordings, scripts, and conversations as evidence. “Let them come. I’m ready,” she declared.
With this shocking confession, Nigeria now waits to see what further revelations will come to light — and whether justice, in any form, will follow.
