The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against a Federal High Court judgment in favour of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District. The court also ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This ruling, delivered on May 21, 2025, by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma A. Barka, effectively puts an end to a controversial legal tussle between the two senators following a heated exchange that took place on the Senate floor earlier this year.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had been summoned by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions over her altercation with Akpabio on February 20, 2025. She approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for an injunction to stop the committee from proceeding with disciplinary actions against her.
Her legal team filed an ex parte motion, and on March 10, 2025, Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted an order restraining the Senate and the ethics committee from continuing with any proceedings. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Akpabio filed two separate motions on March 20 and 25, seeking to appeal the judgment and delay further proceedings.
The motions requested, among other things, that the court:
- Grant leave to appeal the Federal High Court ruling.
- Enlarge the time for filing the notice of appeal.
- Stay proceedings in the original suit.
However, during the appeal hearing, Akpabio’s legal team—led by Deborah D. Anyanwu—applied to withdraw both motions. Consequently, the Court of Appeal struck them out and awarded ₦100,000 in legal costs to Senator Natasha.
> “Application seeking to withdraw the two Motions dated and filed on the 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and same struck out,” the enrolled order stated.
“Cost of N100,000 awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”
The lead judgment by Justice Barka was unanimously supported by Justices Adebukunola Banjoko and Okon Abang. Court documents confirmed that the motions were “identical in content” and were no longer tenable following Akpabio’s withdrawal.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier asked the court to declare that any disciplinary action taken during the pendency of her suit would be null and void.
“We asked the court to restrain the Senate and its committee from investigating me during the pendency of the case. Any action taken should be considered void,” her legal counsel argued.
The ruling marks a significant legal win for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and signals judicial reinforcement of the limits of Senate disciplinary actions, especially during ongoing court cases.
Observers believe this decision strengthens the independence of lawmakers and affirms the judiciary’s role in protecting the rights of elected representatives, even against leadership figures like the Senate President.
As reactions continue to trail the development, many political watchers see it as a cautionary message to Senate leadership to respect the due process of law and avoid overreach in internal matters.
The legal face-off, now concluded, reflects growing tensions in Nigeria’s Senate but also demonstrates the role of the judiciary in upholding accountability, regardless of political rank.
