Akpabio Drags Kogi Central Senator Natasha To Supreme Court Over Suspension Dispute

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated the legal battle over the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by approaching the Supreme Court to sustain his appeal against lower court rulings.

Court documents obtained on Thursday showed that Akpabio filed an application seeking to regularise and continue his challenge of decisions from the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The filings were listed under SC No: SC/CV/1111/2025, Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

The motion partly read: “Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rules 6 & 16 of the Supreme Court 2024… and under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”

Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while the respondents included Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Senator Neda Imasuen, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The dispute arose from a February 2025 plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan raised points of privilege and alleged procedural breaches.

The Senate Ethics Committee later recommended her suspension in March, 2025. Dissatisfied, she approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging a violation of her right to a fair hearing and non-compliance with Senate Standing Orders.

On July 4, 2025, the Federal High Court ruled that her suspension was excessive and unconstitutional.

Following proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio has now taken the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking extension of time to apply for leave to appeal on mixed grounds of law and fact, and recognition of his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed.

Akpabio argued that the Senate acted within its powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to regulate its internal procedures. He added that the Senate President was not obliged to rule on every point of privilege immediately and that the disciplinary process was lawfully activated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, maintained that her suspension was unlawful, carried out without a fair hearing, and violated Senate rules. Her lawyers have been formally served with the Supreme Court processes.

The case also involves a related contempt matter arising from a social media post by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the suit was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, a decision she has appealed.

Legal experts said the Supreme Court ruling could clarify the limits of legislative discipline and the scope of judicial intervention.

The development came just two weeks after Akpabio announced he would withdraw pending court cases against political adversaries. Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed duties on September 23, 2025, after completing a six-month suspension, though she initially faced resistance from the Senate leadership in regaining access to her office.

Her office was sealed on March 6, 2025, following her suspension over alleged misconduct during protests against Akpabio’s reassignment of her seat on February 20, 2025.

Even after her suspension lapsed, her return was initially blocked until the July court ruling affirmed her right to resume.