The legal dispute over the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has escalated as Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court to challenge earlier court decisions on the matter.
Court documents obtained on Thursday i
ndicate that Akpabio filed an application before the apex court seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which faulted the suspension.
The suit, marked SC/CV/1111/2025, stems from events at a Senate plenary session in February 2025 when Akpoti-Uduaghan raised a matter of privilege and alleged breaches of legislative procedure.
Following the session, the issue was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which subsequently recommended her suspension.
Dissatisfied with the action, the lawmaker approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, contending that the suspension violated her right to fair hearing and failed to comply with the Senate Standing Orders.
In its judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the Federal High Court declared the suspension excessive and unconstitutional, prompting further litigation at the Court of Appeal.
In the fresh application before the Supreme Court, Akpabio is seeking extension of time to apply for 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.
He 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, including disciplinary procedures.
Akpabio further maintained that the Senate President is not required to rule immediately on every point of privilege and that the Senate lawfully activated its disciplinary mechanisms.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has consistently insisted that her suspension was unlawful, alleging that she was denied fair hearing and that the Senate failed to adhere to its own rules.
It was confirmed on Thursday that her legal team had been served with the processes filed at the Supreme Court.
The dispute also includes a related contempt issue arising from a social media post made by the senator while the case was pending.
Although the Federal High Court fined her and ordered a public apology, she has appealed that decision.
Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling may provide clarity on the limits of legislative discipline and the scope of judicial intervention in parliamentary affairs.
The development comes barely weeks after Akpabio publicly announced his intention to withdraw pending court cases against some political adversaries.
Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed legislative duties on September 23, 2025, after completing a six-month suspension, although her return was delayed by continued legal wrangling and resistance from Senate leadership.
Her office had been sealed in March 2025 following the suspension over alleged misconduct during a protest against the reassignment of her seat at plenary on February 20.
