Senate President Akpabio Appeals Court Ruling Ordering Recall Of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a significant legal development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that mandated the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Nigerian Senate. The appeal, filed on 14 July 2025, seeks to overturn the 4 July judgement delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, which declared the senator’s six-month suspension “excessive” and lacking legal justification.
The Federal High Court’s ruling stemmed from a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, after her suspension from the Senate on 6 March 2025. The suspension followed a contentious plenary session on 20 February, sparked by a dispute over seating arrangements. The senator had accused Senate President Akpabio of inappropriate conduct, including allegations of sexual harassment, which she claimed occurred during a visit to his home in December 2023. The Senate, citing “unruly behaviour” and violations of its rules, imposed the suspension, which also saw her salary and security detail withdrawn.
Justice Nyako’s judgement described the six-month suspension as unconstitutional, arguing that it denied the people of Kogi Central effective representation. The court ordered the Senate to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, the duration and nature of the suspension were disproportionate. Additionally, the court imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator for contempt, citing a satirical social media post she made in violation of a prior court order barring public commentary on the case.
Akpabio’s appeal, marked CA/A//2025, is grounded on 11 points, with his legal team arguing that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in what they describe as “internal parliamentary affairs.” They cite Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, which they claim shield legislative proceedings, including suspensions and plenary debates, from judicial oversight. The Senate President further contends that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit was premature, as she failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms, such as the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as required by the Senate Standing Orders 2023.
The appeal also accuses the trial court of procedural irregularities, including merging interlocutory reliefs with substantive claims and raising issues—such as the excessiveness of the suspension—without input from either party. Akpabio’s team argues that this breached his right to a fair hearing. They are urging the Court of Appeal to set aside the Federal High Court’s judgement, dismiss Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit for lack of jurisdiction, and strike out what they describe as duplicated reliefs in her applications.
In response, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has dismissed the appeal, maintaining her stance on the unconstitutionality of her suspension. During a brief encounter at a documentary screening in Abuja, she reportedly questioned why the media had not pressed Akpabio on his reasons for appealing, declining further comment. She has also filed a separate appeal challenging the ₦5 million contempt fine, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to penalise her for actions outside the courtroom.
The legal battle has reignited debates about judicial oversight of legislative conduct and the balance of power within Nigeria’s National Assembly. The Senate has indicated it will not reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan until it reviews the Certified True Copy of the court judgement, a position that has drawn criticism from her supporters. On 4 July, posts on X celebrated the court’s ruling as a victory for justice, with users like @YarKafanchan and @TheSerahIbrahim calling for Akpabio to comply with the court’s order.
This case, which also touches on broader issues of gender dynamics in Nigerian politics—given Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status as one of only four female senators out of 109—could set a precedent for future disputes over parliamentary privileges. As the Court of Appeal prepares to hear the case, all eyes remain on whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will return to the Senate and how this saga will shape the relationship between the judiciary and the legislature.
