The legal battle over the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has intensified, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
Court documents obtained on Thursday show that Akpabio filed an application seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against lower court rulings in the case. The documents are marked SC NO: SC/CV/1111/2025; Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025; Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
The motion cites various provisions of the Supreme Court Act, the 1999 Constitution, and the inherent jurisdiction of the apex 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 dates back to a February 2025 plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan raised points of privilege and alleged procedural breaches. The Senate Committee on Ethics later recommended her suspension.
Challenging the decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan went to the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that her suspension violated her right to a fair hearing and breached Senate Standing Orders. On July 4, 2025, the court ruled the suspension excessive and unconstitutional.
Akpabio subsequently took the case to the Court of Appeal and has now approached the Supreme Court seeking an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal, leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and recognition of his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed.
He argues that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution and that the President of the Senate was not obliged to rule immediately on all points of privilege. Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that her suspension was unlawful, carried out without a fair hearing, and violated Senate rules.
The case also involves a related contempt issue stemming from a social media post by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the suit was ongoing. The Federal High Court fined her and ordered a public apology, a decision she has also appealed.
Legal observers note that the Supreme Court’s ruling could clarify the limits of legislative disciplinary powers and judicial oversight.
The dispute comes just weeks after Akpabio announced his decision to withdraw pending court cases against political opponents. Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed her Senate duties on September 23, 2025, after completing a six-month suspension, although access to her office had been delayed due to ongoing legal resistance from Senate leadership.
Her office had been sealed since March 6, 2025, following allegations of misconduct during a protest over her reassignment by Akpabio. Despite the Supreme Court and Federal High Court rulings, she faced obstacles in resuming work, with the Senate initially rejecting her request to return.
