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Summary
In the ongoing legal tussle over Senator Natasha Akpatio-Uduaghan's unconstitutional suspension from the Senate, the Abuja Court of Appeal has dismissed two motions filed by the Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, and imposed a N100,000 fine against him.
The Abuja Court of Appeal has dismissed two motions filed by the Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, against Senator Natasha’s legal suit challenging her unjust six-month suspension from the Senate and imposed a N100,000 fine against him.
This decision came after Akpabio, through his legal team, sought to withdraw the motion for an extended time to appeal the Federal High Court’s ruling delivered on March 10, 2025, by Justice Obiora Egwautu.
The March 10 ruling ordered Akpabio and three other defendants to respond within 72 hours on why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted, restraining them from conducting any investigation against Senator Natasha. However, Akpabio, through his legal counsel, filed a motion on March 20 requesting additional time to appeal the court’s decision.
In his appeal motions, Akpabio sought multiple reliefs, including:
“An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025 on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.”
A three-member panel presided by Justice Hamman Barka granted the application seeking to withdraw the two motions, fined Akpabio N100,000, and struck out the motions. Suit No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 was ordered to be deleted from the court’s register.
