A Nigerian journalist, Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya, is currently in detention following her refusal to produce a defamatory campaign jingle against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite multiple court orders restraining her arrest.
Francess, a prominent journalist and gender rights advocate, had initially been approached by controversial figure Sandra Chidinma Duru—also known as “Prof Mgbeke”—to produce a political jingle allegedly designed to smear Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator had previously accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, drawing national attention.
After Francess delivered a professionally executed version that avoided slander, Duru reportedly rejected the work for not being “indicting enough” and demanded a refund. Francess declined to refund the full ₦350,000 payment, citing completed obligations and expenses already incurred, but returned ₦50,000. Following this, Duru allegedly began to threaten and harass Francess using state institutions.
Despite a restraining order from an Abia State High Court prohibiting her arrest or detention, Francess has been repeatedly targeted by law enforcement, allegedly under Duru’s influence. In June, she was summoned by the National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja, where her phone and password were seized after she voluntarily submitted a statement. After being briefly released, she was re-arrested days later in Umuahia, detained, and later transferred to various police facilities—including in Owerri and Abuja.
Legal documents show that a magistrate court in Abuja remanded her to Keffi Prison in defiance of the High Court’s ruling. She is now reportedly held in Kuje Correctional Facility, even though courts had granted her interim protection against arrest and any violation of her privacy.
Francess has filed a ₦500 million lawsuit against the police and Duru for unlawful detention and breach of her constitutional rights. The lawsuit includes the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, the Director of the National Cybercrime Centre, and others as respondents.
The case has taken a controversial twist with the revelation that Sandra Duru, the woman behind the complaints, was declared wanted by a Lagos court in 2016 over a ₦10 million fraud case and had fled the country. Despite her fugitive status and history of legal troubles, she is now listed as a prosecution witness in the federal government’s case against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Also linked to the saga is whistleblower Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, who remains in police detention after alleging that he was paid ₦2.5 million by Duru to produce damaging content against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on Akpabio’s alleged instruction. He later recanted, saying the entire campaign was fabricated.
Despite multiple court orders and Francess’ proven cooperation with investigations, her continued detention has sparked outcry from press freedom advocates and legal experts, who see it as a troubling case of abuse of power and politicised persecution.
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