In a decisive ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the matter involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ordering Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in costs.
The motions, dated March 3 and 25, 2025, were filed as part of Akpabio’s attempt to challenge a Federal High Court decision delivered on March 10, 2025, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. The motions sought to extend the time to appeal and to stay further proceedings in the suit brought by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The respondents in the case are Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuem, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Akpabio’s reliefs included: “An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision… on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.”
He also requested “an order staying further proceeding… pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before this Honourable Court.”
Justice Hamman Barka’s panel granted the withdrawal of the motions and struck them out, stating: “Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”
The ruling represents a setback for Akpabio amid the ongoing legal tussle over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate.