The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has instructed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against various individuals, stating he was moved by a sermon during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo on Thursday, Akpabio revealed that he had initiated nearly nine lawsuits against those he accused of defaming him.
He remarked, “I had nearly nine cases in court against certain individuals who defamed me, who lied about me, and who slandered my name.
“However, I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was speaking directly to me, so I hereby instruct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against fellow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In late 2025, he lodged a £200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and challenged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier that year, Akpabio’s wife also initiated defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan over claims she asserted had damaged her family’s reputation.
Tensions between the two legislators escalated after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously contested actions taken against her in court, including a £100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged comments that she claimed harmed her reputation.
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has officially brought an end to all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling a resolution to the highly publicised litigations as the year commences.
