Natasha 1 – Akpabio 0! Appeal Court Strikes Out Senate President’s Case, Delivers Costly Verdict

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which aimed to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The motions, dated March 20 and 25, 2025, were voluntarily withdrawn by Akpabio’s legal team and accordingly struck out by the appellate court. In addition, the court ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in legal costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The legal dispute stems from a March 10, 2025, decision by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ruled in favor of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. The court prohibited the Senate Committee from probing her following a heated confrontation with Senate President Akpabio during a plenary session on February 20, 2025.

In response, Akpabio had sought three reliefs from the appellate court: an extension of time to file his appeal, permission to appeal the High Court’s judgment, and a stay of further proceedings. However, during the hearing, his counsel, Deborah D. Anyanwu, applied to formally withdraw the motions.

Justice Hamma Barka, leading the three-member panel which also included Justices Adebukunola Banjoko and Okon Abang, granted the withdrawal and ordered that the appeal, CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025, be expunged from court records.

“Application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on the 20th and 25th of March 2025 is granted and same is hereby struck out. A cost of ₦100,000 is awarded to the 1st Respondent,” read the official court order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine J. Ekperobe.

Earlier, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had asked the court to bar the Senate and its Ethics Committee from proceeding with any disciplinary measures, arguing that such actions violated her right to fair hearing. She maintained that any steps taken during the pendency of the suit would be invalid and without legal effect.

No official explanation was given for the withdrawal of the motions by Akpabio’s legal team, although the move may signal a shift in legal tactics or a de-escalation of tensions within the Senate.