Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan | File photo
The court of appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central.
The motions were struck out by a three-member panel of justices on May 21 following Akpabio’s request to withdraw the motions.
The motions, dated March 3, 2025, and March 25, 2025, and marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, listed Akpoti-Uduaghan; the clerk of the national assembly; the senate; and Neda Imasuem, chairman of the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions, as the respondents.
In the withdrawn motions, Akpabio sought several reliefs, including an extension of time to seek leave to appeal against a judgment of the federal high court in Abuja delivered on March 10, 2025, by Obiora Egwuatu.
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He also sought leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and requested a stay of proceedings in the suit pending the determination of his appeal.
Akpabio also prayed the appellate court to make an order staying further proceedings in the federal high court case (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025), pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
However, the senate president decided to withdraw the applications on the grounds that it has been overtaken by events.
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“The application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and the motions are struck out,” the court ruled.
“Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”
BACKGROUND
In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit to stop the senate committee on ethics and public petitions from instituting disciplinary proceedings against her.
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On March 4, Obiora Egwuatu, the judge, issued an order an order restraining the senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan following an ex parte application filed by counsels to the senator.
Two days after the judgment, the senate suspended the Kogi senator for six months over alleged gross misconduct.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions.
On March 10, Akpabio, through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to preside over what he described as “internal affairs” of legislators.
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On March 19, Egwuatu vacated his March 4 order restraining the senate from suspending the Kogi senator.
At the resumed court session on March 25, Egwuatu announced his decision to recuse himself from the case after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit.
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He ordered that the case file be transferred to John Tsoho, the chief judge of the federal high court, for reassignment. The case was then reassigned to Binta Nyako.
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