The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has instructed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by the counsel of a priest during a New Year’s Mass.
Akpabio made the disclosure on Thursday at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, where he revealed that he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits against individuals he accused of damaging his reputation.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” he said.
“But as I listened to the priest, I suddenly realised he was speaking directly to me. I therefore direct my solicitors to withdraw all the lawsuits against them.”
In his homily, the priest emphasised the importance of peace, describing it as one of humanity’s greatest needs. He urged parishioners to live harmoniously and to release themselves from past grievances.
“You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was,” the priest said. “All of us carry some luggage of pain and hurt. You have to let go if you want to move on.”
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally brought an end to all pending defamation-related legal actions, signalling a gesture of reconciliation and closure at the beginning of the new year.
