United States-based activist Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof. Mgbeke, has appealed to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to use her influence to encourage fairness and due process in the prolonged controversy involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Duru made the appeal in a strongly worded birthday message to the First Lady as she marked her 66th birthday, urging her to reflect on the political and legal issues surrounding the dispute.
In the statement, Duru questioned what she described as the First Lady’s perceived handling of the controversy and called on her to prioritise truth, fairness and justice irrespective of political affiliations.
She also appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow any allegations of criminal conduct arising from the controversy to be investigated and prosecuted where supported by admissible evidence.
“Truth has no gender. Justice should have no favourite. And no political party should negotiate away another human being’s dignity simply because doing the right thing is politically inconvenient,” Duru said.
Duru also revisited allegations she had previously made concerning Akpoti-Uduaghan, including claims relating to alleged false statements, organ harvesting and other criminal conduct. She urged the relevant authorities to investigate such allegations and determine whether there was sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.
The activist further alleged that she had been targeted with attacks on her reputation after she publicly challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying she had instituted fresh legal actions over issues arising from the controversy.
Duru also raised broader political concerns involving Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator Ned Nwoko, as well as reported political discussions concerning Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and the future leadership of the Senate.
She said Nigerians deserved transparency over any political negotiations or assurances involving senior political office holders.
The activist also called on Akpoti-Uduaghan to apologise to the families and institutions she alleged had been affected by the controversy if competent investigations establish that allegations made against them were false.
The long-running dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio has generated allegations and counter-allegations since 2025. Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation the Senate President denied. The Senate subsequently suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following a dispute over seating arrangements and other proceedings in the chamber.
Duru, who previously accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to recruit her into a campaign against Akpabio, has herself faced legal action over statements concerning the senator. In January 2026, a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Duru from publishing or circulating material described in the order as defamatory, scandalous, inciting or injurious against Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending determination of the substantive suit.
More recently, Duru made fresh allegations concerning her relationship with Akpabio in an audio recording circulated on social media. The latest claims reportedly differ from her earlier account, while Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan had not publicly responded to the latest allegations as of the reports reviewed. The authenticity and substance of the new recording remain unverified.
Concluding her birthday message to the First Lady, Duru urged Senator Tinubu to demonstrate what she described as courageous and impartial leadership in addressing the controversy.
“Leadership requires courage when the truth is uncomfortable,” she said, while wishing the First Lady wisdom, courage and discernment.
Duru signed the message as “Prof. Mgbeke.”
