Minister Adambi’s complaint against Akponna for defamation: case dismissed

The legal saga pitting former Ministers of Mines Samou Seidou Adambi and his successor Akponna ended almost as quickly as it began.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Abomey-Calavi Court of First Instance wrapped up the case in under two minutes, in a courtroom where neither of the two protagonists was present.

At the end of the hearing, one of the judges simply indicated that the file was now « vidé ».

According to a source close to the court, Samou Seidou Adambi reportedly decided to withdraw his complaint, thereby putting an immediate end to the proceedings brought against former minister Akponna. No further legal action is therefore planned.

Background of the case

The dispute goes back several months, when Samou Seidou Adambi filed a defamation suit against Akponna, accusing him of remarks considered damaging to his honor.

Deputy Minister Akponna had indeed announced publicly during a political outing that his predecessor was guilty of mismanaging resources intended to supply the population with drinking water.

Those remarks led to a defamation complaint. This complaint, which seemed to foreshadow a longer legal battle, ultimately ends with a unilateral withdrawal by the plaintiff, bringing an end to a tense episode at the top of the mining administration.

It’s worth noting that Deputy Minister Akponna acknowledged his mistakes and apologized to his predecessor. The two even met to seal their reconciliation.