The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has taken popular blogger and media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji, Stella Ifeoma Okengwu and Linda Ikeji TV Limited to court over a series of publications he described as defamatory.
Umahi filed the suit before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, seeking the retraction of the alleged defamatory materials, a public apology and billions of naira in damages.
The suit, filed on August 24, 2026, and marked FCT/CV/264/26, was instituted through his counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN.
According to the court documents, the minister alleged that the defendants embarked on what he described as a sustained “campaign spree” against him between March 2025 and March 2026.
Umahi claimed that the publications were circulated through Linda Ikeji’s blog platform, social media accounts and Linda Ikeji TV
He specifically alleged that Okengwu, identified in the suit as the Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Estate Services, Lagos, published a series of videos on her Instagram account, @thewomanking1.
The minister alleged that the videos contained accusations of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual depravity, land grabbing, sexual harassment of women and claims that he was unfit to hold public office.
Umahi further alleged that the videos were subsequently amplified to a wider audience through Linda Ikeji TV and its Instagram platform.
Why the minister went to court
Umahi said he had previously attempted to resolve the matter without litigation.
According to the court documents, his lawyers wrote to the defendants demanding an unreserved public apology, the removal of the publications and an undertaking that similar materials would not be published in the future.
The minister alleged that the demands were not complied with, leaving him with no option but to approach the court.
The minister is asking the court to declare the publications false, defamatory and capable of damaging his reputation among right-thinking members of society.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to:
Remove the alleged defamatory publications from their platforms.
Retract the statements.
Publish a written public apology.
Broadcast a video apology on the same platforms where the alleged publications appeared.
Stop publishing similar materials about him in the future.
Umahi is also asking for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and affiliated entities from further publishing allegedly defamatory content against him.
The minister’s financial claims are substantial.
He is demanding ₦500 million in general damages and ₦2 billion in exemplary damages, bringing the damages claim to ₦2.5 billion.
He is further seeking ₦500 million as the cost of the suit, as well as 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest on whatever sum the court may eventually award.
Umahi has also asked the court to issue an interim order stopping the defendants from making further publications he considers defamatory while the substantive case is being heard and determined.
The allegations contained in the suit remain claims before the court, and the defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the minister’s case.