President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has announced the withdrawal of all ongoing defamation lawsuits he filed against several individuals.
The decision, he said, was inspired by the counsel of a Catholic priest during the New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo.
Speaking during the service on Thursday, Akpabio revealed that he had instituted nearly nine lawsuits against persons who allegedly maligned his reputation. However, he explained that the priest’s sermon, which emphasised peace and reconciliation, struck a personal chord with him.
“As I listened to the priest, I felt he was speaking directly to me. That moved me to instruct my lawyers to withdraw all the defamation cases,” Akpabio stated.
The priest, in his homily, urged parishioners to embrace peace, let go of past grievances, and live harmoniously with one another.
By this announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the widely publicised litigations as the new year begins.
