Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained his decision to withdraw a defamation suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and other pending legal actions, describing the move as a deliberate choice rooted in moral authority, faith, and the demands of legislative leadership. Speaking during the church service, the Senate President disclosed that he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits against individuals over statements he considered damaging to his reputation. Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife had also filed separate defamation suits against the Kogi Central senator, alleging that claims made against her husband had damaged the family’s reputation. Akpoti-Uduaghan had also approached the courts to challenge actions taken against her, including a ₦100bn defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and others over alleged remarks she said harmed her reputation. With Akpabio’s directive to his lawyers, all pending defamation suits instituted by him have now been formally withdrawn, effectively bringing closure to the highly publicised legal disputes as the new year begins.

Source: Punch January 09, 2026 15:00 UTC