A media practitioner cum socio – political activist Francess Olisa-Ogbonna, has alleged that she was paid to manipulate Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan’s voice in a 30 million naira smear campaign.
She made the damning allegations against social media personality Sandra Duru, popularly known as “Prof Mgbeke,” accusing her of allegedly orchestrating the N30 million smear campaign aimed at discrediting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan through doctored audio content and false narratives.
In a released made available to newsmen, Olisa-Ogbonna, alleged that Duru contacted her, after allegedly giving her one hundred thousand naira as a gift on the saturday before Easter and also allegedly offered her further financial inducements to produce and circulate a damaging media script against the Kogi Central Senator.
She further claimed that she allegedly received 300,000 naira from Duru on Easter Monday, with a prepared script and two audio files, with specific instructions to allegedly voice over and fabricate a storyline in her studio that would sway public opinion against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The media activist explained that the entire scheme was allegedly designed to mislead Nigerians against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s credibility through orchestrated online propaganda, adding that, Duru alleged bizarre accusations against FIDA and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili were fabricated lies as there was nothing in the audio to that effect.
Describing Sandra Duru as an alleged controversial figure, Olisa-Ogbonna further alleged that she even played an audio voice of a prominent political figure to lend credence to her claim of being allegedly sponsored by him.
The journalist also alleged that the said Sandra Duru had allegedly made previous attempts to extort high-profile individuals, including the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
Olisa – Ogbonna also added that Duru reached out to other social media activists, who refused to engage in the smear campaign, which she had set aside 30 million naira for, only to turn around and accused some of them of being arrogant.
“I know how the video was made and the manipulation behind it,” Olisa-Ogbonna declared. “Sandra is always scheming, but I challenge her to release our audio recordings to counter my claims as I have my version with timestamps, and I’m ready to release it to the public”, she said.
Olisa-Ogbonna reaffirmed her willingness to honour any official invitation to testify, insisting that her speaking out was borne out of civic responsibility and a moral obligation.
Independent Newspaper
