ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Works, David Umahi, has instituted a ₦2.5 billion defamation lawsuit against media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji, Linda Ikeji TV Limited and businesswoman Stella Ifeoma Okengwu over publications and videos he alleges were false, malicious and damaging to his reputation.
The suit, marked GWD/CV/264/26, was filed on August 24, 2026, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division.
According to details contained in the case summary, Umahi alleges that the defendants published and circulated statements and videos concerning him between March 2025 and March 2026, which he says were defamatory.
The Minister claims that some of the publications contained allegations of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual misconduct, land grabbing, sexual harassment of women and claims that he was unfit to hold public office.
Umahi alleges that the materials were published through social media platforms and Linda Ikeji’s media platforms, following videos allegedly posted by Okengwu.
Umahi Demands Retraction and Apology
The Minister said he had previously instructed his lawyers to write to the defendants, demanding the removal of the publications and an unreserved public apology.
According to the case summary, the demands were not complied with, prompting Umahi to approach the court.
He is asking the court to declare the publications complained of false, defamatory and calculated to damage his reputation.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to remove the alleged defamatory materials from their social media platforms and other outlets where they were published.
In addition, Umahi wants the defendants ordered to issue a public apology, including through the same platforms on which the disputed materials allegedly appeared. He is also seeking a permanent injunction restraining them from publishing further materials he considers defamatory.
₦2.5bn Damages, Plus ₦500m Legal Costs
Umahi is asking the court for ₦500 million in general damages and ₦2 billion in exemplary damages, bringing the damages claim to ₦2.5 billion.
He is separately demanding ₦500 million as the cost of prosecuting the case.
This means that if all the monetary claims were awarded as requested, the total financial claim would amount to ₦3 billion, before any post-judgment interest.
The Minister is also asking the court to award 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest on any judgment sum until it is fully paid.
The case was filed by a legal team led by A.J. Owonikoko, SAN, alongside other Senior Advocates of Nigeria from Synergy Attorneys.
Defendants Yet to Respond
The case summary indicated that the defendants had not been served with the writ at the time the document was prepared.
Consequently, there had been no substantive defence from Linda Ikeji, Linda Ikeji TV Limited or Stella Ifeoma Okengwu at that stage. The defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations after being served with the court processes.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit remain claims made by Umahi and have not been established by the court.
The case is expected to put the disputed publications and the claims surrounding them before the court as the legal proceedings progress.
