Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated his legal battle to the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his attempt to defend the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from legislative duties.
The controversy began in February 2025 during a Senate plenary session when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of parliamentary privilege and alleged procedural irregularities.
The matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. The committee later recommended her suspension for six months, which was adopted by the Senate.
Dissatisfied with the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that her constitutional right to fair hearing had been violated and that the Senate failed to comply with its Standing Orders.
On July 4, 2025, the trial court ruled in her favour, declaring the suspension excessive and unconstitutional.
Court of Appeal Decision
Senate President Akpabio, acting in defence of the Senate’s decision, appealed the ruling. However, in November 2025, the Court of Appeal struck out his brief of argument, describing it as “incurably defective.”
The appellate court noted that Akpabio’s filing exceeded the 35-page limit and used improper formatting.
His request to file an extended brief was declined, and the court awarded ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This procedural dismissal meant that the Federal High Court’s judgment stood, effectively affirming that the suspension was unlawful.
Supreme Court Processes
Akpabio has now filed fresh processes at the Supreme Court, seeking:
- An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal.
- Leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact.
- An order deeming his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed and served.
His legal team argues that the case raises substantial constitutional and procedural issues, citing Section 60 of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to regulate its own procedure.
In their filings, Akpabio’s lawyers also accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating formatting rules in her own brief, alleging that she used smaller fonts and single spacing to bypass the 35-page limit.
Senator’s Position
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently maintained that her suspension was unlawful and violated her right to fair hearing. She insists the Senate failed to follow due process before referring her to the ethics committee and imposing disciplinary sanctions.
On January 21, 2026, her legal counsel was formally served with the Supreme Court processes, setting the stage for a full contest at the apex court.
The case also involves a related contempt proceeding. The Federal High Court had earlier ruled that a social media post by Akpoti-Uduaghan violated a subsisting restraining order. The court imposed a fine and ordered her to issue a public apology.
She has challenged that ruling on appeal, arguing that contempt proceedings are criminal in nature and require strict compliance with statutory procedures.
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