Project TruthShield
The Project TruthShield vision was born from Prof. Sandra Duru’s personal experiences during the Natasha and Akpabio crisis, which had far-reaching impacts on her ( Prof. Duru), her children, her reputation, and the Nigerian nation. The down effects of the impacts were also felt by men and boys globally.
Silence is not justice, but the hand of justice is far-reaching. This project is about raising a global shield for every man, boy, uncle, nephew, son, brother, husband, and father. It is deliberately designed to defend truth, protect men, and ensure that unheard screams become clearly heard.
As may be erroneously perceived, this project is not about Godswill Akpabio. It’s about you, your sons, your nephews, your fathers, your brothers, your uncles, your
husbands, and your boyfriends. It is about every male in your family, your life, your community, and yes, it is about the reputation of your country, and even the protection of your daughters and sisters
If we don’t stop false allegations, media manipulation, and gender weaponization today, the truth may be silenced. People may stop taking women seriously, especially the true victims of sexual harassment and abuse. And if we fail, our men and boys will continue to be victims of gender weaponization and unheard screams. They will continue to be victimized, crucified, condemned, and bullied into depression, or worse still, convicted of crimes they did not commit.
As we know, there have been several high-profile cases of men worldwide who were falsely accused of grievous sexual crimes and put on trials that disrupted their lives, careers, families, and general well-being. Some of these include the likes of Brazilian football superstar, Neymar Junior; former French football international, Benjamin Mendy; American movie icon, Johnny Depp; and, more recently, Ghanaian football star, Thomas Partey, who is still under investigation.
There are also others like:
(1) Anthony Broadwater, who was exonerated in 2021 after serving 16 years in prison for a rape he did not commit. His conviction was overturned when new evidence revealed flaws in the original trial, including misidentification and
prosecutorial misconduct.
(2) Gerardo Cabanillas, who was freed from prison in 2023 after 28 years, was wrongfully convicted of rape as a teenager. DNA evidence proved his innocence, leading to his exoneration.
(3) Former Indian college professor Anand Viswanathan was acquitted of sexual harassment charges in 2025 after 11 years. The court found a total lack of evidence, and the accusations were deemed politically motivated.
(4) Motown legend Smokey Robinson faced sexual assault allegations from four former housekeepers in 2025. He publicly dismissed the claims as false and financially motivated, and his legal team criticized the publicity surrounding the case.
If men of such timber and calibre as these could have been victimized and put through such horrors as they’ve had to battle against during their ordeals, what
chances does an average man who has no affluence, connections, and popularity have against such victimization and gender weaponization?
These cases underscore the devastating impact of false allegations on men’s lives and the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals. They also highlight the necessity of initiatives like Project TruthShield to combat false accusations and ensure justice for all.