Akpabio Withdraws Defamation Cases Against Natasha, Others, After New Year. Sermon Spurs Reflection
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has withdrawn all pending defamation suits against various individuals, including Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following a New Year’s sermon at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo.
Akpabio stated that the priest’s message prompted a personal reflection, leading him to discontinue the cases.
The Senate President had initiated close to nine defamation cases against people he accused of making false allegations against him, notable among them was a N200bn defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and asked her to prove in court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had also filed a N100bn defamation suit against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged statements that harmed her reputation. The relationship between the senators deteriorated after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025.
Akpabio’s wife, on her part, also approached the courts with defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging that certain claims had damaged her family’s reputation.
With Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has ended all unresolved defamation-related legal battles, closing a chapter of widely reported litigation as the new year begins.
The Senate President’s decision to withdraw the suits comes after a year of intense legal battles and public disagreements with Akpoti-Uduaghan.
