Senate President Godswill Akpabio has directed his lawyers to withdraw all pending defamation lawsuits, saying he was moved by a priest’s counsel during a new year mass.

This is contained in a statement by the Senate president’s media office in Abuja on Thursday.

Speaking on Thursday at Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, Mr Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine suits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and realised he was talking to me, so I directed my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against them,” Mr Akpabio said.

In his homily, the parish priest and Vicar-General, Very Reverend Father Donatus Udoette, urged worshippers to pursue peace and reconciliation.

“You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was. All of us carry pain and hurt, but letting go allows us to move on,” he said.

Mr Akpabio’s decision formally ends all defamation-related legal disputes, signalling closure to the publicised cases at the beginning of the new year.

(NAN)