Umahi Files N2.5b Defamation Lawsuit Against Bloggers
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has dragged media personality Linda Ikeji, her company, Linda Ikeji TV Limited, and the Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Estate Services, Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over alleged defamatory publications.
In a suit filed on August 24, 2026, Umahi accused the defendants of embarking on what he described as a sustained campaign of malicious and damaging publications against him between March 2025 and March 2026.
The suit, marked GWD/CV/264/26, was commenced through a Writ of Summons and filed against Okengwu as first defendant, Linda Ikeji as second defendant, and Linda Ikeji TV Limited as third defendant.
According to the claimant’s Statement of Claim, the defendants allegedly published a series of statements and videos through social media platforms, including Instagram, containing allegations of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual depravity, land grabbing, sexual harassment of women and unfitness for public office against Umahi.
Umahi, a civil engineer and serving Minister of Works, contends that the publications were false and defamatory and calculated to damage his reputation before members of the public.
The claimant further told the court that he initially sought an amicable resolution, engaging lawyers to demand an immediate and unreserved public apology, withdrawal of the alleged defamatory publications and an undertaking by the defendants to desist from further publication.
He alleged, however, that despite the intervention of his lawyers, the defendants remained recalcitrant, prompting the institution of the suit.
Umahi is asking the court to declare the video posts and broadcasts allegedly made through Okengwu’s Instagram handle, @thewomanking1, and subsequently circulated through Linda Ikeji’s Instagram platform, @lindaikejiblogofficial, false and defamatory.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to pull down the alleged defamatory materials from their social media platforms and any other medium through which they were published.
The claimant further wants the defendants ordered to tender an unreserved public apology to him through video broadcast, written publication and the same social media platforms allegedly used in publishing the offending materials.
In a further demand, Umahi is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, representatives, successors, assignees and entities controlled by them from publishing what he considers false and defamatory materials against him.
Umahi is demanding N500 million in general damages and another N2 billion in exemplary damages, jointly and severally against the defendants, for the alleged damage to his reputation.
He is also asking for 10 per cent post-judgment interest per annum on any judgment sum awarded by the court until full liquidation.
The claimant further seeks N500 million as costs of the suit, in addition to such further orders as the court may deem appropriate.
The Writ of Summons was issued by a team of lawyers from Synergy Attorneys, led by A. J. Owonikoko, SAN, FCArb., alongside several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Mahmud Magaji, Prof. J. O. Olatoke, Yakubu A. H. Ruba, Emmanuel I. Esene and Roy O. U. Nwaeze.
The case has, however, not reached the stage of hearing on the substantive allegations, as the defendants are yet to be served with the court processes, according to the case summary.
The allegations contained in the suit therefore remain claims by the claimant pending service, defence and determination by the court.
