Senate President Godswill Akpabio has directed his legal team to discontinue all pending defamation suits he instituted against various individuals, saying the decision was inspired by spiritual counsel received during a New Year Mass in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio made the disclosure on Thursday at the Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, where he attended the New Year service.
He explained that the move followed a moment of personal reflection prompted by the priest’s homily, which focused on peace, forgiveness and the importance of letting go of past grievances.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” Akpabio told the congregation. “But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me. So I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all the lawsuits against them.”
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During the sermon, the priest urged worshippers to embrace peace as a pathway to progress, noting that personal healing often begins with forgiveness. He stressed the need to let go of past hurts in order to move forward.
Akpabio’s decision ended a series of high-profile defamation cases that attracted national attention in 2025.
Among them was a N200 billion suit filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following allegations of sexual harassment which Akpabio denied and asked her to prove in court.
His wife had also instituted defamation actions over claims she said damaged the family’s reputation.
The relationship between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan worsened after her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, which she publicly linked to her allegations against the Senate President. Akpoti-Uduaghan also challenged some of the actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit over remarks she said harmed her reputation.
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has brought closure to all defamation-related litigations involving him, signalling a conciliatory start to the year and a shift from courtroom battles to reconciliation.