The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and imposed a cost of N100,000 against him in favour of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ruling was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka on May 21, 2025, after Akpabio applied to withdraw his motions.
This was according to a certified true copy of the ruling obtained by Punch on Tuesday.
The motions, dated March 20 and March 25, 2025, and marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025 respectively, listed Akpabio as the appellant.
The respondents were 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.
In the appeal, Akpabio had asked the court for several reliefs, including; “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 WHISTLER reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan had in the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2025 prayed the court to order the Senate to stop its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against her over an altercation with Akpabio at plenary on February 20.
She initiated the suit after she received an invitation to appear before the committee for a probe and possible suspension.
Justice Egwuatu, in a ruling on March 5, issued an ex-parte order barring the committee from proceeding with the said probe of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, on March 25, Justice Egwuatu recused himself from the case, following Akpabio’s petition challenging his objectivity in the matter.
After his withdrawal, Akpabio proceeded to withdraw his motions at the appellate court.
In its ruling, the appellate court granted the withdrawal request and struck out both motions.
“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 N100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted,” the court held.
