The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who alleged sexual harassment, and several individuals.

Akpabio gave the directive touched by a sermon given by Father Donatus, Udoette, the Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Parish , Uyo, during the New Year Mass.

Akpabio said ,“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 suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In his homily the Priest said that the greatest thing that man needs is peace and admonished parishioners to live in peace with one another.

“You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was. All of us carry some luggage of pain and hurt. You have to let go if you want to move on,” he said.

With the Thursday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begun.

The Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has said that he never authorised the manhandling of a former Managing Director of Daar Communication, Dr. Pedro Obaseki.Oba Ewuare II said he remained a father of all.

The former Daar Communication boss was, last Sunday, abducted where he was playing football by suspected thugs.

He was beaten, stripped naked and paraded through the streets of Benin City on allegation of being an ‘Oghionba’ (enemy of the Oba).

Obaseki was taken to the Oba’s Palace from where he was taken to the police station.

He was beaten, stripped naked and paraded through the streets of Benin City on allegation of being an ‘Oghionba’ (enemy of the Oba).Obaseki was taken to the Oba’s Palace from where he was taken to the police station.

But the Benin monarch, who spoke in a statement signed by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, advised youth not to take the laws into their hands on any issue no matter the degree of provocation.

In the statement, “The Benin Traditional Council use this medium to inform the general public that the unfortunate incidence in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorized by the Oba of Benin.

And it cannot be authorized because it is not in the character of our revered monarch to do so. The Oba of Benin is a peace-loving father to all.

“The Benin Traditional Council also wish to advice our youth not to take the laws into their hands on any issue no matter the degree of provocation.

They should always respect the laws of the land in all actions and utterances and allow appropriate Security Agencies handle all matters.

“Social media users should equally endeavour to cross-check information appropriately before posting.”

Kaduna police have arrested two suspected kidnappers who allegedly developed romantic feelings for the women they abducted.

The suspects are accused of abducting and sexually assaulting two married women.

During their captivity, the women reportedly pretended to reciprocate the suspects’ affections to survive, even exchanging phone numbers.

Acting on intelligence, police intercepted and arrested the suspects at the meeting location on Tuesday.

After being released, the women continued communication with the suspects and arranged a meeting under the pretense of a romantic encounter.