The legal tussle surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has entered a new phase as Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taken the matter to Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
Court documents obtained on Thursday reveal that Akpabio has filed an application at the apex court seeking permission to regularise and sustain his appeal against earlier judgments delivered by lower courts. The case is listed under SC/CV/1111/2025, following earlier proceedings at the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit, Akpabio is named as the appellant, while the respondents include Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.
The dispute dates back to a Senate plenary session in February 2025, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues bordering on privilege and alleged violations of Senate procedures. The matter was subsequently referred to the Ethics Committee, which recommended her suspension.
Unhappy with the decision, the senator approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that her suspension violated her constitutional right to fair hearing and failed to comply with the Senate’s Standing Orders. In a judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the court ruled in her favour, describing the suspension as excessive and unconstitutional.
Following the outcome at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio has now escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. In his application, he is asking for an extension of time to seek leave to appeal, approval to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and an order validating his notice of appeal and brief of argument.
The former Akwa Ibom governor maintains that the Senate acted within its constitutional authority under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to regulate its internal affairs. He also argued that the Senate President is not required to immediately rule on every point of privilege raised during plenary sessions, insisting that the disciplinary process was lawfully triggered.
On her part, Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently maintained that her suspension was unlawful, stressing that the Senate failed to follow its own rules and denied her a fair hearing. It was confirmed on Thursday that her legal team has been served with the Supreme Court documents.
The case also includes a related contempt issue arising from a social media post made by the senator while the case was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, a ruling she has also appealed.
Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling could set an important precedent on the balance between legislative discipline and judicial oversight.
The development comes barely two weeks after Akpabio announced his decision to withdraw pending court cases against some of his political adversaries.
Akpoti-Uduaghan eventually resumed legislative duties on September 23, 2025, after completing her six-month suspension and regaining access to her office, which had been sealed since March 6, 2025. Despite the suspension expiring earlier, her return was delayed by ongoing legal disputes and resistance from Senate leadership. Although she formally notified the Senate of her intention to resume following the July 4 judgment, her initial request was rejected.
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