Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Nigerian Senate, has ordered his legal team to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits, saying he was moved to do so by a priest’s message delivered during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo on Thursday, Akpabio said he had pursued nearly nine cases against individuals he accused of defaming him. “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” he told the congregation. “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.”
Akpabio withdraws defamation suits and ends high-profile litigations
The announcement formally ends a series of public legal battles that began in 2025 and continued into late 2025. Among the most prominent was a N200 billion defamation suit Akpabio filed against fellow senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment which he denied and asked her to prove in court.
Akpabio’s wife had also initiated defamation proceedings linked to claims she said harmed the family’s reputation. Relations between the two senators deteriorated sharply after Akpoti‑Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct. Akpoti‑Uduaghan has herself challenged some of the actions in court, including a reported N100 billion suit she filed against Akpabio and others over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
Legal experts say the withdrawal will bring immediate relief to the defendants and cut the cost and time associated with high-value litigation. “When prominent public figures step back from prolonged court battles it reduces strain on the judiciary and can open space for political reconciliation,” said one legal analyst who asked not to be named.
Akpabio’s decision also drew reaction from civil society groups and political commentators, some of whom welcomed the move as an act of statesmanship and others who called for clarity about whether the withdrawals will be absolute or conditional on private settlements.
For now, Akpabio’s directive appears unambiguous. His announcement at the New Year service, attended by clergy and members of the public, marks a symbolic end to a chapter of intense public accusations and counter-accusations that attracted national attention.
The development may ease tensions within parts of the Senate and beyond. Analysts note that while the legal files may be closed, the political disputes that fed the litigation remain a matter for ongoing political and parliamentary processes.
As the year begins, the withdrawal offers the parties involved a degree of closure and could set a tone of conciliation in a political environment that has often been adversarial. Observers will be watching to see whether the move leads to renewed dialogue between the senators and whether any formal statements or reconciliatory steps follow the legal withdrawals.
Image credit: Sacred Heart Parish service in Uyo.
Key Takeaways:
- Akpabio withdraws defamation suits after hearing a priest’s sermon at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo.
- He had filed nearly nine cases, including a N200 billion suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan.
- The move formally ends a series of high-profile litigations that dominated headlines in 2025.
- The withdrawal signals a conciliatory start to the year and closure for the parties involved.
