Monday, December 22, 2025 - The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
According to Punch,the development followed a recent judgment of the Court of
Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of
argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent,
having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal
Rules on formatting and procedure.
Although Akpabio publicly claimed that the brief was struck
out “illegally,” certified records of proceedings obtained showed
that the court based its decision strictly on the law.
The justices found that the brief breached several rules,
including using the wrong font size and line spacing, exceeding the 35-page
limit, and failing to obtain leave of court to depart from the rules.
The court also held that the Notice of Appeal itself was
defective.
The panel ruled that the violations were substantive and
affected theappeal’s competence, leading to the brief being struck out in its
entirety.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Akpabio has now asked the
Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
His decision to personally pursue the case has, however,
attracted public attention, with some legal and political observers describing
it as unusual for a Senate President.
Sources within the National Assembly alleged that Akpabio
had been closely following the case and showing intense interest in its
outcome, claims that have raised concerns among sections of the legal
community.
The case has also been coloured by the long-running
political tension between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The first-term senator has gained prominence for her
outspoken criticism of Senate leadership, a stance insiders say has unsettled
the Senate President.
“This matter has clearly moved beyond the courtroom. It has
become a political contest for relevance and dominance,” a National Assembly
source said.
Within the ruling party circles, there are also claims that
influential interests expect the Senate President to curb Akpoti-Uduaghan’s
rising profile.
In his Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, Akpabio argued
that the Court of Appeal violated his right to a fair hearing by refusing to
grant leave to regularise the defective brief or exceed the page limit.
He urged the apex court to set aside the proceedings of
November 28, 2025, nullify the judgment and allow him to refile his brief in
line with the rules.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsels have confirmed
being served with the court documents,
While expressing confidence in the judiciary, they described
the appeal as a desperate move to overturn a lawful decision.
“Yes, we have been served. But this is just another needless
misadventure that will lead to nowhere,” one of the Kogi senator’s lawyers told
our correspondent in confidence.
t Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for
six months in March 2025 after protesting the relocation of her seat during
plenary.
She accused Akpabio of targeting her and once described him
as a “dictator.”
Although the suspension elapsed in September, she could not
resume immediately due to ongoing legal issues and resistance from Senate
leadership.
Her office was later reopened by officials of the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and she returned, insisting she had “no apology to tender.”
With both sides now heading to the Supreme Court, the case
has once again drawn intense public attention.
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