Drama as Akpabio drags Natasha to supreme court as suspension battle deepens

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court as the legal battle over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, continues.

Akpabio filed an application at the apex court seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against earlier rulings of the lower courts on the matter.

Part of the application reads:

“Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rules 6 and 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024, Sections 22, 27(1) and 29 of the Supreme Court Act, and Section 233 (1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”

Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while the respondents include Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, 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 began during a February 2025 plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of privilege and alleged procedural breaches.

The matter was later referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which recommended her suspension.

Dissatisfied with the decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging a violation of her right to a fair hearing and non-compliance with Senate Standing Orders.

In a judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the court described the suspension as excessive and unconstitutional.

Following proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.

He is seeking an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal, permission to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and an order validating his notice of appeal and brief of argument.

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.

The Supreme Court is now expected to decide whether the appeal will proceed.