Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a notice of appeal challenging the Federal High Court’s ruling that voided the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and directed her return to the Senate.
The appeal, lodged on July 14, 2025, follows Justice Binta Nyako’s judgment which labelled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as excessive and legally unfounded.
In the appeal, Akpabio argues that the matter falls under the internal workings of the National Assembly and should not be subject to judicial interference. His legal team maintains that issues relating to plenary conduct, disciplinary actions, and legislative resolutions are protected by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
He also faulted the court for ruling on issues not argued by either party, particularly the legality of the suspension’s duration, and for recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall despite it not being among the reliefs she requested.
According to Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to exhaust internal channels of redress, such as the Senate Committee on Ethics, before approaching the court. He further claimed the suit violated legal procedures by not issuing the required three-month notice to the National Assembly, as outlined in the Legislative Houses Act.
The Senate President is asking the Court of Appeal to strike out the High Court’s judgment, dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction, and restrain the judiciary from offering what he termed “unsolicited advice” to the legislature.
