Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted interim injunctive relief restraining UK‑based activist, Dr. Sandra Duru (also known as Prof Mgbeke), and Meta Platforms Inc. (operators of Facebook) from publishing or disseminating allegedly defamatory material against Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan.
Delivering ruling in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/229/2025, Justice I. Mohammed held that the claimant had established a serious question to be tried and demonstrated risk of irreparable harm to her reputation if urgent judicial intervention was not granted.
The court accordingly ordered the first defendant, Dr. Duru, “whether by herself, her agents, privies, or otherwise,” to desist from further posting, sharing, or promoting any defamatory, scandalous, or injurious content against the claimant on Facebook or any other social media platform, pending determination of the substantive suit.
In addition, the court directed Meta Platforms Inc. to immediately remove or disable access to all offending publications traceable to the first defendant, whether under her personal name or pseudonym “Prof Mgbeke.” Meta was further ordered to preserve and archive all electronic evidence, including metadata and digital footprints, relevant to the dispute, to aid the court in the fair adjudication of the matter.
Justice Mohammed emphasised the preservatory nature of interim injunctions, noting that such orders are designed to prevent irreparable harm, maintain the status quo ante bellum, and safeguard the subject matter of litigation until final judgment. He stressed that the reliefs granted were protective rather than punitive, observing that Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan had established a prima facie case of ongoing defamation, with reputational injury incapable of adequate monetary compensation.
The court also took cognisance of allegations that the first defendant engaged in a sustained campaign of cyberbullying and defamation, publishing no fewer than 30 posts between May and October 2025, which allegedly went viral and exposed the claimant to hostility, security threats, and emotional trauma.
On Meta’s role, the court noted that the claimant had lodged formal complaints identifying specific links and content, yet the platform allegedly failed to act, thereby enabling continued accessibility of the defamatory materials. Justice Mohammed held that this issue raised serious questions for trial.
This development follows earlier claims by Dr. Duru, who in a Facebook Live session alleged that Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan attempted to induce her with ₦200 million to fabricate allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, including claims of organ harvesting.
