By RismadarVoice Media
January 1, 2026
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his legal team to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits he instituted against several individuals, saying the decision was inspired by counsel he received during a New Year Mass.
Speaking on Thursday at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio disclosed that he had filed nearly nine defamation cases against persons he accused of lying against, slandering him.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” he said.
“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, the Senate President was involved in several high-profile defamation suits, including cases involving fellow lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Late in the year, Akpabio filed a ₦200 billion defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan following allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier, his wife had also instituted defamation proceedings against the Kogi senator, alleging that her claims damaged the family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers deteriorated after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct. She had also challenged the disciplinary action in court, filed a separate ₦100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio and other parties over remarks she claimed harmed her reputation.
