Natasha wins as Appeal Court strikes out Akpabio’s motions, imposes fine on Senate President
By OUR REPORTER, Abuja.
In the decision delivered on May 21, 2025, the three-member panel of Justices, led by Justice Hamma A. Barka, also ordered Senate President Akpabio to pay N100,000 in costs to the 1st Respondent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
It was victory day for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out two motions filed by President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and awarded costs of M100,000 against him.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, struck out the motions on May 21, 2025, following the request for withdrawal of the appeal.
The appellate court, on Tuesday June 10, 2025, struck out the motions filed by Akpabio against a Federal High Court judgment that barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motions, dated March 20 and March 25, 2025 and marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, respectively, listing Akpabio as the appellant, sought permission to appeal the March 10, 2025 decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The respondents were Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuem.
In the appeal, Akpabio sought the following reliefs: “An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025 on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.
“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the Appellant/Applicant to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice | Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025, on Grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal attached as Exhibit B.
“An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may file their Notice of appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025.
“An order of this Honourable Court staying further proceeding in Suit No: FCH/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), pending the hearing and determination of the Appellant/Applicant’s appeal before this Honourable Court.”
The court, in its ruling, held that, “Application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and the motions are struck out.”
In the decision delivered on May 21, 2025, the three-member panel of Justices, led by Justice Hamma A. Barka, also ordered Senate President Akpabio to pay N100,000 in costs to the 1st Respondent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Costs of N100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted,” the cost ruled.
