…Akpabio’s move comes barely two weeks after he announced plans to withdraw pending court cases against his adversaries.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Akpabio has escalated the legal tussle over the suspension of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
Court documents sighted on Thursday show that Akpabio has filed an application at the apex court seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against decisions of the lower courts.
The case is marked SC/CV/1111/2025, with related Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
In the application, Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while the respondents are Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.
The dispute stemmed from a February 2025 plenary session during which Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of privilege and alleged breaches of Senate procedure. The matter was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which recommended her suspension.
Challenging the decision, the lawmaker approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging a violation of her right to fair hearing and failure by the Senate to comply with its Standing Orders.
In its judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the Federal High Court faulted the suspension, describing it as excessive and unconstitutional.
After proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio 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 an order deeming his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed.
Akpabio 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. He also maintained that the Senate President was not obliged to rule immediately on every point of privilege and that the disciplinary process was lawfully activated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has insisted that her suspension was unlawful and carried out without fair hearing, arguing that the Senate failed to follow its own rules.
It was confirmed on Thursday that her legal team has been served with the Supreme Court processes.
The matter also includes a related contempt issue arising from a social media post made by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the case was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, a ruling she has also appealed.
Legal observers say the Supreme Court’s decision may help define the limits of legislative discipline and judicial intervention.
Akpabio’s move comes barely two weeks after he announced plans to withdraw pending court cases against his adversaries.
Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed duties on September 23, 2025, after completing a six-month suspension and regaining access to her office at the National Assembly, which had been sealed since March 6, 2025.
Although the suspension elapsed in September, she was initially unable to return due to ongoing legal disputes and resistance from the Senate leadership. Following the July 4 judgment, she formally notified the Senate of her intention to resume, but the request was initially declined.
