Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits, Including Case Against Senator Natasha, After Priest’s Sermon

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ordered his legal team to withdraw all defamation lawsuits he instituted against various individuals across the country.

Akpabio said the decision followed a sermon he listened to during the New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, January 1.

Addressing the congregation after the service, the Senate President disclosed that he had filed nearly nine defamation suits against people he accused of lying and maligning his character but had a change of heart after the priest’s message.

“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 realised he was talking to me. I therefore direct my solicitor to withdraw all the lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation cases, including one against fellow lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. He sued her for ₦200 billion after denying allegations of sexual harassment she made against him and challenging her to substantiate the claims in court.

See also  Six Kuje inmates graduate with degrees from NOUN Six inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja have earned university degrees through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), marking a major milestone in prison education and rehabilitation. The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, said the inmates completed their programmes while still in custody, describing the achievement as proof that education can reform lives and prepare inmates for reintegration into society, The Cable reported According to NCoS spokesperson Samson Duza, two of the inmates bagged master’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, while four earned bachelor’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, political science, criminology, and security studies. Represented by Deputy Controller-General Amos Kupan, Nwakuche stressed that incarceration should not end personal growth, adding that the service remains committed to providing educational and skill-building opportunities for inmates. The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates and urged them to use their qualifications as tools for positive change after their release. Also speaking, Francis Enobore, Director of NOUN’s Special Study Centre, described the institution’s long-standing partnership with the correctional service as a “pathway of hope,” noting that learning restores dignity and purpose. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari thanked both NOUN and the NCoS, saying the opportunity renewed their sense of direction. The ceremony also featured counselling sessions focused on re-entry, skills development, and community reintegration, with the graduates pledging to contribute meaningfully to society upon release.

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