Minister of Works, David Umahi, has filed a N2.5 billion defamation suit against media practitioner Linda Ikeji, Linda Ikeji TV Limited and Stella Ifeoma Okengwu.
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 the case summary, Umahi accused the defendants of publishing statements and videos about him between March 2025 and March 2026 which he described as false, malicious and defamatory.
The minister alleged that some of the publications accused him of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual misconduct, land grabbing, sexual harassment and being unfit to hold public office.
Umahi, through his lawyers, had reportedly demanded the removal of the publications and an unreserved public apology. The case summary stated that the demands were not complied with.
In the suit, the minister 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 a public apology and an injunction restraining the defendants from publishing what he considers false and defamatory materials against him.
Umahi is seeking N500 million in general damages, N2 billion in exemplary damages and N500 million as the cost of the suit.
He is further asking the court to award 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest until any judgment sum awarded is fully paid.
The case was filed by a team of lawyers led by A. J. Owonikoko, SAN, alongside other Senior Advocates of Nigeria from Synergy Attorneys.
As of the time the case summary was prepared, the defendants had reportedly not been served with the writ.
The allegations contained in the suit remain claims by the minister and have not been established by the court. The defendants will have an opportunity to respond if they are served and enter their defence.
