Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taken his legal battle to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, seeking a reversal of the judgment delivered by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the recall of suspended Kogi senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Nyako’s July 4, 2025 ruling not only voided Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension but also held her in contempt over a satirical Facebook post made during her case against the Senate. She was fined N5 million and directed to tender a public apology.
Both parties — Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan — have now taken their grievances to the appellate court, each challenging different aspects of the ruling. A three-member panel of justices has reserved judgment after hearing arguments and adopting briefs from both sides.
Akpabio’s appeal centres on the claim that the lower court overreached its jurisdiction. His legal team argues that the matter falls under the internal legislative affairs of the National Assembly, which they say is shielded from judicial review by Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution. They also cite the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, insisting that issues such as suspension of members and parliamentary utterances cannot be subjected to external adjudication.
In an 11-ground notice of appeal filed on July 11, Akpabio’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, described the lower court’s judgment as erroneous and an interference with parliamentary procedures.
The High Court had earlier ruled the suspension unconstitutional, excessive, and a breach of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents’ right to representation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, on her part, is challenging the N5 million contempt fine, which she insists violates her fundamental rights. In her six-ground appeal, she contends that the contempt decision lacks legal basis.
The appeals — marked CA/ABJ/CJ/739/2025, CA/ABJ/CJ/1208/2025, among others — all stem from her original suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, which sought to halt the Senate’s investigation of her alleged misconduct.
During Friday’s hearing, Akpabio’s counsel, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN, withdrew one of the cross-appeals, noting that it had been overtaken by events since Akpoti-Uduaghan had already resumed her seat in the Senate. The Court subsequently dismissed the withdrawn appeal.
