Ezekwesili never received any payment to appear before Senate Committee – Mazi Obinna

Veteran journalist and public affairs commentator, Maazi Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, has dismissed as false and malicious the claims made by self-styled activist Sandra Duru, popularly known as “Prof Mgbeke,” alleging that former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, was paid to appear before a Senate Committee investigating sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking on Adeola Fayehun’s YouTube programme on Monday, May 12, 2025, Obinna categorically denied Duru’s claims, describing them as a deliberate smear campaign targeted at high-profile Nigerians.

He said Duru had falsely claimed during a live stream that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan told her in a private phone conversation that there was no sexual harassment and that the accusations against Akpabio were fabricated.

Duru further alleged that Natasha paid Dr Ezekwesili and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to speak in her defence—a claim Obinna said was not only baseless but completely unsupported by the audio Sandra circulated, which he confirmed contained no such confession.

Obinna disclosed that he was initially engaged by Sandra Duru for a media production assignment, receiving ₦2.5 million to produce a series of videos intended to malign Senator Natasha.

According to him, he considered it a routine professional job until he began to notice inconsistencies and outright fabrications in Duru’s public statements.

It was after hearing her make the controversial allegations during a live stream that he decided to withdraw and go public with the truth.

“It became clear to me that the assignment was part of a calculated blackmail agenda,” he stated.