The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by the counsel during New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State 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 realized he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuits against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s also filed defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured 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 challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suits she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has finally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicized litigations as the year begins.
-9News Nigeria.
