Akpabio has withdrawn all defamation suits after a priest’s New Year sermon.
Glamtush reports that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo on Thursday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“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.”
During his homily, the priest said the greatest thing humanity needs is peace and admonished parishioners to live peacefully with one another.
He urged them to let go of past hurts, saying, “You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was. All of us carry some luggage of pain and hurt. You have to let go if you want to move on.”
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations at the start of the new year
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan.
The N200 Billion Lawsuit
In December 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, alleging she made false claims of sexual harassment that severely damaged his reputation.
The lawsuit sought substantial financial damages, nationwide public retractions, and broadcast apologies. Akpabio contended that interviews Akpoti-Uduaghan gave to television, radio, and online media outlets reached millions of Nigerians and subjected him to public humiliation.
Justice U.P. Kekemeke had granted Akpabio’s request for substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly after personal service attempts reportedly failed. The suit also demanded removal of all online content related to the allegations and repeated apology broadcasts across major media platforms.
The Senate President’s announcement marks a dramatic reversal in what had become one of the most closely watched legal battles involving Nigerian lawmakers, with his spiritual experience overriding what he had previously characterized as necessary legal action to protect his name and office.
