Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Thursday he has directed his lawyers to withdraw all pending defamation lawsuits he filed against several individuals, saying a New Year sermon prompted him to reconsider his decision to pursue the cases.
Akpabio made the announcement while speaking at a New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. He said he had reflected on his resort to litigation after listening to a homily delivered by the parish priest.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” Akpabio said. “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.”
Among the cases affected is a widely publicised 200-billion-naira defamation suit involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator representing Kogi Central, who had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. Akpabio has denied the allegation.
In his homily, the parish priest and vicar-general of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, the Very Reverend Father Donatus Udoette, stressed the importance of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
“The greatest thing that man needs is peace,” Udoette said, urging congregants to let go of past hurts in order to move forward.
Akpabio did not say when his legal team would formally file the withdrawals in court.
