By Abiola Olawale
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has filed an appeal to overturn a Federal High Court ruling that ordered the recall of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Nigerian Senate.
The appeal reportedly filed on July 14, 2025, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeks to contest the July 4 judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which declared the senator’s six-month suspension “excessive” and a violation of her constituents’ right to representation.
The New Diplomat reports that the on-going legal battle stemmed from a controversial dispute that began on February 20, 2025, over seating arrangements in the Senate, which escalated into allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was subsequently suspended on March 6, 2025, during a plenary session presided over by Akpabio. She was denied access to her office, salary, and official security detail.
However, Justice Nyako in her ruling, described the suspension as unconstitutional and urged the Senate to reinstate the Kogi Central senator.
In the latest move, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over the case, as it pertains to the internal affairs of the National Assembly, which they claim is protected under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.
In an 11-ground appeal, the President of the Senate further contended that the court’s recommendation to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan was not part of her original reliefs and constitutes judicial overreach.
Additionally, Akpabio asserted that the senator’s suit was premature, as the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions had not concluded its investigation when she filed the case.
The appeal seeks to set aside the lower court’s judgment, strike out duplicated reliefs in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s applications, and dismiss her suit entirely.
Akpabio also argued that the court violated his right to a fair hearing by ruling on the suspension’s excessiveness without allowing both parties to address the issue.
