Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court to challenge decisions of the Court of Appeal arising from the legal dispute over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Court documents indicate that Akpabio, acting in his capacity as President of the Senate, filed fresh processes at the apex court seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against rulings that faulted the Senate’s disciplinary action against the Kogi Central lawmaker.
In the suit filed in Abuja, Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while the respondents include 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 originated from a Senate plenary session in February 2025, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues bordering on parliamentary privilege and alleged procedural irregularities. The matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, a process that culminated in her six-month suspension from legislative activities.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging violations of her constitutional right to fair hearing and non-compliance with the Senate Standing Orders. In a judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the court examined questions relating to parliamentary privilege, internal legislative procedure and the extent of judicial intervention in legislative affairs.
The Senate President subsequently appealed the decision. However, in November 2025, the Court of Appeal struck out Akpabio’s brief of argument, describing it as “incurably defective” for breaching procedural requirements, including exceeding the 35-page limit and using improper formatting. The appellate court also declined his request to file an extended brief, awarded N100,000 costs to Akpoti-Uduaghan and proceeded to hear the matter.
That ruling effectively upheld the lower court’s finding that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional.
In his latest application before the Supreme Court, Akpabio is 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 and served.
He argues that the appeal raises substantial constitutional and procedural issues deserving the attention of the apex court, contending that the Senate acted within its powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to regulate its own procedure. His legal team further maintains that strict adherence to procedural rules should not override the fundamental right to fair hearing.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently maintained that her suspension was unlawful and carried out in violation of due process, insisting that the Senate failed to comply with its own Standing Orders before imposing disciplinary sanctions.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team confirmed that they had been formally served with the Supreme Court processes, paving the way for a full legal contest at the apex court.
The case also includes a related contempt proceeding stemming from a social media post made by the senator during the pendency of the suit. While the Federal High Court ruled that the post violated a subsisting restraining order, Akpoti-Uduaghan has appealed the decision, arguing that the alleged contempt was criminal in nature and required strict compliance with statutory procedures.
