Akpabio renews legal fight against Natasha Akpopti-Uduaghan, heads to Supreme Court 

The legal tussle over the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has intensified, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio taking the matter to the Supreme Court.

Court documents sighted on Thursday show that Akpabio has filed a fresh application before the apex court, seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against earlier judgments that faulted the suspension.

The suit, marked SC/CV/1111/2025, stems from an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, and an earlier case at the Federal High Court. In the application, Akpabio is asking the Supreme Court for an extension of time to seek leave to appeal, permission 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 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 a point 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, arguing that her suspension violated her right to fair hearing and failed to comply with the Senate Standing Orders. In a judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the court agreed with her position, describing the suspension as excessive and unconstitutional.

Following proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio has now escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. In his filings, the Senate President argued that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to regulate its internal affairs.

He further contended that the Senate President is not obligated to immediately rule on every point of privilege raised on the floor and that the Senate lawfully activated its disciplinary mechanisms.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has consistently maintained that her suspension was unlawful, insisting that the Senate failed to observe its own rules and denied her a fair hearing. It was confirmed on Thursday that her legal team has been served with the Supreme Court processes.

The case also features a related contempt issue arising from a social media post made by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the suit was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, a ruling she has equally appealed.

Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s eventual decision could offer clarity on the limits of legislative discipline and the extent of judicial oversight over parliamentary affairs.

The development comes barely two weeks after Akpabio publicly announced his intention to withdraw pending court cases against his adversaries.

Although Akpoti-Uduaghan completed her six-month suspension and resumed duties on September 23, 2025, her return was delayed by continued legal disputes and resistance from Senate leadership. Her office had remained sealed from March 6, 2025, following her suspension over alleged misconduct linked to a protest against the reassignment of her seat on February 20.

After the July 4 judgment, she formally notified the Senate of her intention to resume, but the request was initially turned down, further deepening the standoff now before the Supreme Court.