Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, has ordered the withdrawal of all defamation lawsuits instituted in his name against individuals he accused of damaging his reputation, saying a New Year’s Day sermon compelled him to choose peace over prolonged legal battles.
Akpabio disclosed on Thursday during a New Year Mass at the Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, where he revealed that as many as nine defamation suits were pending in court before his decision to discontinue them.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” the Senate President said.
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“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
The announcement followed a homily by the Very Reverend Father Donatus Udoette, the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Aka, and Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, who urged congregants to embrace forgiveness and inner peace.
“The greatest thing man needs is peace,” Father Udoette said.
“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.”
Akpabio’s decision effectively brings to an end a series of high-profile defamation disputes that had drawn public attention, particularly his legal face-off with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
One of the most prominent cases involved Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been locked in a legal dispute with Akpabio following sharp exchanges and sexual harassment allegations that his camp described as defamatory.
Akpabio had last year filed a ₦200 billion defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of falsely alleging sexual harassment against him.
Earlier, Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President, had filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of defamation and violating her fundamental rights.
She also demanded damages of N250billion and another N1biĺlion charges.
