•David Umahi and Linda Ikeji
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has filed a N2.5 billion defamation suit against Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, media practitioner Linda Ikeji and Linda Ikeji TV Limited.
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, reports The Guardian.
According to the case summary, Umahi alleges that the defendants published statements and videos about him between March 2025 and March 2026 which he considers false, malicious and defamatory.
The claimant alleges that the publications accused him of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual misconduct, land grabbing, sexual harassment and being unfit for public office.
Umahi, through his lawyers, had reportedly demanded that the defendants remove the publications and issue an unreserved public apology. The case summary states that the defendants did not comply with the demand.
In the suit, Umahi is asking the court to declare the publications defamatory and order the defendants to remove them from their social media platforms and other media outlets.
He is also seeking an order directing the defendants to issue a public apology and an injunction restraining them from publishing what he describes as false and defamatory materials against him.
The minister is seeking N500 million in general damages, N2 billion in exemplary damages and N500 million as the cost of the suit, according to the case summary.
He is also asking the court to award post-judgment interest at 10 per cent annually until any judgment sum is fully paid.
The suit was filed through a team of lawyers led by A. J. Owonikoko, SAN, and other senior advocates of Nigeria from Synergy Attorneys.
The case summary states that the defendants had not been served with the writ as of the time the document was prepared.
The allegations in the suit are claims by the claimant and have not been established by the court.
The defendants will have an opportunity to respond if and when they are served and enter their defence.
