Natasha battles Akpabio over reinstatement challenge

Akpabio and Natasha

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dismissed the appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeking to overturn a Federal High Court ruling that ordered her reinstatement to the Senate.

Akpabio, through his legal team, approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the July 4 judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, which nullified Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Red Chamber and declared it “excessive” and without legal basis.

The appeal, filed on July 14 and marked CA/A//2025, arose from suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 instituted by the embattled Kogi Central lawmaker to challenge her suspension.

Akpabio is urging the appellate court to set aside the judgment, arguing in an 11-ground appeal that the trial court erred in assuming jurisdiction over what he described as the internal affairs of the National Assembly—matters which, he contends, are beyond judicial interference under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate President also faulted the court for dismissing his preliminary objection and issuing orders affecting parliamentary procedures. He maintained that actions taken during plenary, including suspensions and resolutions, are protected by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and should not be subject to litigation.

Akpabio further argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit was premature, as she had failed to exhaust the internal redress mechanisms of the Senate, particularly the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as stipulated in the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended).

He also accused the trial court of breaching his right to a fair hearing by raising issues not canvassed by either party—specifically, whether the suspension was excessive—and proceeding to recommend her recall without allowing both parties to address the issue.

Efforts to obtain a formal response from Akpoti-Uduaghan were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to calls or messages.