The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed two interlocutory motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and imposed a ₦100,000 fine against him.
The motions—filed on March 20 and 25, 2025, and registered as CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025—were Akpabio’s response to a suit brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.
In his filings, Akpabio sought the appellate court’s permission to appeal the March 10, 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. The suit names as defendants the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and two others.
Akpabio had asked the court for additional time to apply for leave to appeal, permission to appeal on mixed grounds of law and fact, and a stay of proceedings at the lower court pending the appeal’s resolution.
However, during the hearing, Akpabio’s legal team moved to withdraw the motions, arguing that subsequent developments had rendered them unnecessary. The Court accepted the withdrawal and struck out both motions.
Delivering the ruling on May 21, 2025, a three-judge panel led by Justice Hamman Barka also ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the first respondent in the case.
The court stated: “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. Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 is to be deleted.”
Senator Akpabio was the appellant in the case, while the respondents included Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
