“#NatashaLied: Senator Akpoti’s Defenders Accidentally Confirm Ties With Sandra Duru Despite Public Denial”

ABUJA, NIGERIA — A spiraling scandal is engulfing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as her own media allies appear to have unintentionally exposed the truth she publicly denied — that she indeed held private conversations with US-based activist Dr. Sandra Duru.

The controversy erupted after Onyekachi Francis, a vocal online supporter of the senator, admitted during a live session with journalist Adeola Fayehun that she had received voice recordings and scripts from Natasha’s camp — materials that detail private conversations between the senator and Dr. Duru.

This comes in direct contradiction to Senator Natasha’s earlier categorical denial of ever knowing or speaking with Dr. Duru. In a Facebook post last week, the senator dismissed the activist as an “attention-seeker” who fabricated claims, including allegations of a falsified sexual harassment narrative involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

However, Onyekachi’s remarks have now unraveled that version of events.

“She [Natasha] said she was happy Sandra was supporting her,” the influencer disclosed during the live broadcast. “She never mentioned bringing down any Yoruba government or attacking Oby Ezekwesili in the audios I was sent.”

The comments, meant to deflect accusations against the senator, have instead triggered a political firestorm — confirming to critics that Natasha did indeed communicate with Sandra, despite her public denials.

Even more damaging, the influencer revealed she had been asked to voice over a script from Natasha’s team to discredit Sandra but chose to edit out defamatory sections and avoided using her own voice to avoid legal consequences.

This public relations misstep has set social media ablaze. Within hours, hashtags like #NatashaLied and #Lietasha began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users accusing the senator of lying to the Nigerian public and attempting to manipulate the narrative through media proxies.

“If Natasha said she never knew Sandra, how come her defenders are confirming that her team sent them personal audios and political scripts?” asked one outraged analyst. “This goes beyond PR damage — this is a serious credibility crisis.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Sandra Duru has maintained her stance, claiming to possess original recordings, call logs, and text messages that support her story. According to her, the senator shared sensitive political plans and personal trauma, including alleged harassment by high-ranking officials.

With the situation spiraling, pressure is mounting on the National Assembly and relevant agencies to launch an independent forensic investigation into the recordings and claims of perjury or misrepresentation.

As of press time, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her media team have refused to respond to multiple inquiries seeking clarification.

AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

Lagos was on fire as the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) turned the Eko Hotel and Suites into a cauldron of dazzling lights, A-list glam, thunderous ovations, and unforgettable cinematic triumphs!

From the very first note of Johnny Drille and Kunmié’s soul-stirring performance, it was clear: this wasn’t just another award show. It was Africa’s Oscars on steroids—a masterclass in drama, spectacle, and unapologetic star power.

Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka owned the night, snatching Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively for their commanding roles in Seven Doors, which—alongside the revolutionary Lisabi: The Uprising—stood tall as cinematic titans with multiple wins.

But the crown jewel of the evening? The explosive Best Movie win by Freedom Way, beating out juggernauts like Christmas in Lagos and Suspicion. Gasps filled the room. Eyes widened. Cameras flashed.

Then came the curveballs.

Gabriel Afolayan, suave and striking, bagged Best Supporting Actor, while Mercy Aigbe stunned in gold before claiming Best Supporting Actress in Farmer’s Bride—a category packed with heavyweights.

The night wasn’t just about big names; it was also about bold narratives and unflinching creativity. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos slayed with Best Cinematography, while Suspicion‘s haunting sound design won over the jury.

In a year where African stories roared with identity, pain, love, and resistance, Lisabi made a clean sweep in Art Direction, Makeup, and Indigenous Language (West Africa), proving that culture remains a cinematic weapon.

Meanwhile, Seven Doors added to its legend with wins in Best Series Scripted, Best Music/Score, and Best Indigenous Language—making it the night’s silent assassin.

Veteran icons Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu received thunderous standing ovations as Lifetime Achievement honorees, while the young and fiery Kayode Kasum walked away as the AMVCA Trailblazer, his star rising at warp speed.

And the audience? On their feet. In awe. Loud. Proud. Unforgettable.

With 28 categories blending fierce public votes and expert jury verdicts, the AMVCA 2025 was more than a show—it was a statement. Africa’s storytellers are not waiting for permission anymore. They’re rewriting the narrative. Loudly.

Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

 In a seismic ruling that sends shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal and social elite, the Supreme Court on Friday revoked the bail earlier granted to flamboyant Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate remand in prison custody.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the apex court dismantled the bail granted by the Court of Appeal in 2018, declaring it a judicial overreach steeped in procedural irregularity.

Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who read the lead judgment, minced no words as she condemned the appellate court’s decision, declaring it “an exercise in futility” after it had already ruled Ajudua’s appeal incompetent.

“The lower court, at that point, had no jurisdiction to proceed further. It had become functus officio,” she ruled, restoring the earlier decision of trial Judge Mojisola Dada who denied Ajudua bail in July 2018.

The decision marks a major victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had petitioned the apex court to overturn what it described as a flawed and unjustified release of Ajudua—an accused at the center of a staggering $1.43 million international fraud.

The case, which has dragged for decades, centers around allegations that Ajudua, in concert with an accomplice still at large, duped a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of millions under the guise of executing shady contracts backed by forged documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC.

The scandal has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with high-profile financial crimes and delayed justice. With this ruling, the Supreme Court not only nullified the appeal court’s decision but also ordered a swift resumption of Ajudua’s long-stalled trial before Justice Dada of the Lagos High Court.

The EFCC had charged Ajudua in a 12-count indictment that included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and forgery. Despite citing health concerns, Ajudua’s attempt to evade prosecution through bail has now been effectively shut down.

Legal observers say the ruling reasserts the authority of trial courts and reinforces the Supreme Court’s intolerance for procedural abuse in high-profile criminal cases.

“This appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared. “The respondent is to be remanded in prison custody.”

The court further directed that the matter be reassigned immediately for continuation of trial “within the shortest possible time.”

With the bail revoked and trial back on track, all eyes now return to the courtroom—where a case that began over three decades ago may finally see resolution.