Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his legal team to withdraw all pending defamation lawsuits filed against several individuals, including Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio announced the decision on Thursday while speaking at a New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, saying he was moved by a sermon delivered by the priest.
According to him, he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits against individuals he accused of lying and slandering his name.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” Akpabio said.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, the Senate President filed several high-profile defamation suits, including a N200 billion claim against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and challenged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife had also instituted separate defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging damage to her family’s reputation.
The legal battles followed a breakdown in relations between both lawmakers after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in turn, filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio and others over remarks she claimed tarnished her reputation.
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally brought an end to all pending defamation-related legal disputes, marking a dramatic closure to the long-running litigations at the start of the new year.
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