Journalist and media activist, Maazi Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, has been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force under the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Akuwudike, who recently granted a viral interview to Adeola Fayehun on her YouTube channel, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday around 3am in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

His lawyer confirmed the development to SaharaReporters during a telephone conversation, saying: “He was arrested in the early hours of today. Here in Owerri.”

The arrest appears to be linked to the journalist’s explosive revelations in which he exposed how he was allegedly paid ₦2.5million by one Sandra Duru, popularly known as “Prof Mgbeke,” to produce defamatory content targeting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the interview, Akuwudike also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was the political and financial sponsor behind Duru’s smear campaign against the senator.

“I received money for producing videos but grew concerned after noticing inconsistencies in Duru’s public statements,” Akuwudike said.

He explained that he was initially hired for a media production assignment but decided to withdraw after realising the agenda was malicious and unfounded.

According to him, the turning point came after hearing some of Duru’s controversial statements during a livestream.

“After that livestream and other things I began to uncover, I knew I had to come clean. Everything she said about Natasha was fabricated lies,” he said.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported that the Nigerian government is set to call Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and four others as witnesses in a high-profile criminal case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

This development follows the Nigerian government’s decision to file criminal charges against the Kogi-born senator over her televised allegation that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate her.

According to court documents exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the case was filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria listed as the complainant and Senator Natasha as the sole defendant.

The government is accusing the senator of criminal defamation under Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, an offence punishable under Section 392 of the same law.

The charges are linked to an interview the senator granted on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, on April 3, 2025, where she openly accused Akpabio and Bello of plotting her assassination.

She had also alleged that the Senate President orchestrated the withdrawal of her security detail to expose her to danger.

“I do stand by what I said. In respect to the meeting or discussion Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me,” she said during the live interview.

A court document seen by SaharaReporters lists six individuals the government intends to call as witnesses to support the charges.

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is listed as a nominal complainant and is expected to testify on what he knows about the case. His address is listed as No. 13 TY Danjuma Street, Asokoro.

Yahaya Adoza Bello, also named as a nominal complainant, is to testify similarly. His address is No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4.

Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, who was alleged by Natasha to have driven Bello to the Hilton Hotel for the alleged plot meeting, is listed as a witness with an address at the Senate Building, National Assembly Complex.