Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated the legal dispute surrounding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Supreme Court.
Court documents obtained on Thursday show that Akpabio filed an application to regularize and maintain his appeal against lower court rulings in the matter. The filings carry Supreme Court number SC/CV/1111/2025, Appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, and Federal High Court suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
The motion, filed under relevant sections of the Supreme Court Act and the Nigerian Constitution, seeks recognition of Akpabio’s notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly submitted. Akpabio is the appellant, while the respondents include Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The dispute began after a February 2025 Senate plenary session, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about privilege and alleged procedural irregularities. The matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which recommended her suspension.
Challenging her suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her right to a fair hearing was violated and that the Senate failed to follow its own procedures. On July 4, 2025, the court ruled that the suspension was harsh and unlawful.
After proceedings in the Court of Appeal, Akpabio has now brought the matter to the Supreme Court, requesting an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal, permission to appeal on mixed law and fact grounds, and confirmation that his submissions were valid. He argued that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to regulate its internal affairs, and that the Senate President is not required to rule on every privilege issue immediately.
Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that her suspension was illegal and carried out without due process. Her lawyers confirmed on Thursday that they had received Supreme Court processes.
The case also includes a related contempt matter stemming from a social media post by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the suit was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, which she has also appealed.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to clarify the boundaries of legislative disciplinary authority and judicial intervention. The development comes just two weeks after Akpabio announced plans to withdraw pending court cases.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office has remained closed since her suspension on March 6, 2025, following allegations of misconduct during a protest against Akpabio’s relocation of her Senate seat on February 20. Though the suspension was due to end in September, she has been unable to resume work due to ongoing legal challenges and opposition from Senate leadership. After the July 4 High Court decision, she informed the Senate of her intent to return, but her request was initially blocked.
