ABUJA, Nigeria — David Umahi, Nigeria’s minister of works, has sued media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji, and two other defendants over publications he alleges damaged his reputation.
The case was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Monday, August 24, 2026. It is marked GWD/CV/264/26.
The other defendants are Stella Ifeoma Okengwu and Linda Ikeji TV Limited.
Umahi is seeking ₦500 million in general damages and ₦2 billion in exemplary damages.
He is separately asking the court to award him ₦500 million for the cost of pursuing the case, bringing his total monetary claims to ₦3 billion before interest.
The allegations have not been determined by the court.
According to the case summary, the defendants had not been served with the originating documents when the summary was prepared and had therefore not filed responses.
Publications Made Over a One-Year Period
Umahi alleges that the defendants published statements and videos about him between March 2025 and March 2026.
According to his claim, the materials accused him of bribery, corruption, intimidation, sexual misconduct, land grabbing, sexual harassment and being unsuitable for public office.
The minister denies the allegations and describes the publications as false and defamatory.
Umahi said he initially instructed his lawyers to demand that the materials be withdrawn and that the defendants issue an unreserved public apology.
He alleged that the defendants neither removed the content nor published the requested apology.
Minister Seeks Removal and Public Apology
Umahi is asking the court to declare the disputed publications false and defamatory.
He also wants the defendants ordered to remove the statements and videos from their Instagram accounts and every other platform on which they appeared.
The minister is seeking a written public apology and an apology delivered through video broadcasts.
He wants those apologies published on the same platforms through which the contested materials were circulated.
Umahi has further requested a permanent injunction preventing the defendants, their agents, representatives and related entities from publishing materials about him that he considers false and defamatory.
In addition to the damages and legal costs, he is seeking annual post-judgment interest of 10 per cent on any amount awarded by the court until it is fully paid.
The action was commenced by lawyers from Synergy Attorneys. The team is led by A. J. Owonikoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, alongside other senior advocates.
The case had not proceeded to a hearing on the substantive claims when the summary was prepared.
The defendants will have an opportunity to respond after they are served with the court documents.
