By Comfort Asemota
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Supreme Court in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Court documents dated December 1, 2025, obtained by our correspondent, confirm that Akpabio filed the appeal following a recent Court of Appeal ruling in Abuja. The appellate court had struck out the Federal Government’s brief in the appeal related to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The Court of Appeal held that the brief was incompetent, citing violations of the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure. These included incorrect font size and line spacing, exceeding the 35-page limit, and failing to obtain leave of court to deviate from the rules. The court also ruled that the Notice of Appeal was defective, concluding that the violations were substantive and affected the appeal’s competence.
Akpabio, dissatisfied with the ruling, has now asked the Supreme Court to overturn the decision. His personal involvement in the case has drawn public attention, with some legal and political observers noting it is unusual for a sitting Senate President to pursue a case directly.
The dispute is further complicated by long-standing political tension between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan. The first-term senator has gained attention for her outspoken criticism of Senate leadership, which insiders suggest has unsettled the Senate President.
In his Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, Akpabio argued that the Court of Appeal violated his right to a fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to regularise the defective brief or exceed the page limit. He urged the apex court to set aside the November 28, 2025 proceedings, nullify the judgment, and allow him to refile his brief in compliance with procedural rules.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team confirmed being served with the Supreme Court documents and described the appeal as a desperate attempt to overturn a lawful decision. “Yes, we have been served. But this is just another needless misadventure that will lead to nowhere,” one of her lawyers said.
The senator was suspended for six months in March 2025 after protesting the relocation of her seat during plenary. She accused Akpabio of targeting her and previously referred to him as a “dictator.” Although the suspension ended in September, she could not immediately resume duties due to ongoing legal challenges and resistance from Senate leadership. Her office was later reopened, and she returned, insisting she had “no apology to tender.”
With both parties now heading to the Supreme Court, the case has once again attracted intense public and media attention.
