Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ordered the withdrawal of all defamation lawsuits he instituted against several individuals, saying the decision was inspired by a sermon he listened to during a New Year church service.
Akpabio made the announcement on Thursday while addressing worshippers at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo. He revealed that he had filed close to nine defamation suits against people he accused of making false and damaging claims against him.
“I had almost nine cases in court against individuals who defamed and slandered my name,” he said. “But while listening to the priest during the Mass, I felt the message was directed at me, and I immediately decided to withdraw all the cases.”
In 2025, the Senate President initiated several high-profile defamation actions, including a N200 billion suit against fellow lawmaker Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which Akpabio denied and challenged her to prove in court.
Earlier, Akpabio’s wife had also filed separate defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan, claiming that certain allegations had damaged the family’s reputation.
The dispute between both senators escalated after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of playing a role in her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct. She later instituted a N100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio and others over statements she said harmed her reputation.
With his latest directive, Akpabio has effectively brought an end to all pending defamation-related legal battles, marking a conciliatory start to the new year.
