The family of Nigerian whistleblower and media activist, Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, has cried out over his mysterious disappearance and continued detention three weeks after he was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. The arrest, allegedly executed on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has plunged the family into a state of fear and confusion, with no word on his condition or whereabouts.
In an emotionally charged video obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters on Friday, Akuwudike’s distressed wife appealed for help, narrating the torment her family has endured since his sudden disappearance.
> “I have not spoken with him for three weeks. They came and took him away, and we’ve heard nothing since. I don’t even know if my husband is alive,” she said through tears.
“His children cry every day, and his elderly father has fallen ill from worry. My husband is the first son of the family, and this silence is tearing us apart.”
The wife’s desperate plea underscores a deepening mystery surrounding Akuwudike’s fate following his early morning arrest in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after he featured in a viral interview with US-based Nigerian journalist Adeola Fayehun.
Akuwudike, a respected journalist and vocal critic of government excesses, had during the interview made explosive claims, alleging he was paid ₦2.5 million by Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof Mgbeke, to orchestrate a smear campaign against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. According to him, the funds were allegedly provided under the directive and financial sponsorship of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
> “I received money to produce videos defaming Senator Natasha. But when I started noticing contradictions and fabrications in Duru’s narratives, I backed out. The entire plot was a web of lies,” Akuwudike confessed in the interview.
His revelations sparked a media firestorm, raising serious concerns about blackmail, political witch-hunting, and the silencing of dissenting voices in Nigeria.
His lawyer confirmed the arrest to SaharaReporters, saying:
> “He was picked up in the early hours in Owerri. Since then, we’ve received no formal charge or information on his status.”
Multiple sources familiar with the situation believe Akuwudike’s arrest is a direct reprisal for his public confession, which exposed a politically motivated disinformation campaign allegedly targeting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a curious twist, the Nigerian government has initiated criminal defamation charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stemming from her televised accusations that Senate President Akpabio and ex-Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello conspired to eliminate her.
The case, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, names the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant. The prosecution is anchored on Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code Law, based on her remarks during an April 3, 2025 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
> “I do stand by what I said regarding the meeting Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me,” the Senator asserted live on air.
Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that both Akpabio and Bello are listed as nominal complainants and principal witnesses in the case, alongside four others.
Meanwhile, Akuwudike’s family, legal team, and human rights advocates are demanding his immediate release or arraignment, condemning what they describe as unconstitutional detention and enforced disappearance.
Human rights groups have warned that Nigeria is slipping into an era where whistleblowers, journalists, and activists face intimidation, unlawful detention, or worse—for simply telling the truth.
> “This is no longer about Obinna alone,” said a legal expert close to the matter. “It’s about the soul of Nigeria’s democracy—about whether truth can still be told without fear.”
As the days turn into weeks, Akuwudike’s fate remains unknown, with his case now emblematic of a larger crisis in Nigeria’s civic and democratic space.
PIONEER NEWS 