The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which challenged a Federal High Court judgment that barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from initiating disciplinary proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motions, dated March 20 and March 25, 2025, sought permission to appeal the March 10 decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Clerk to the National Assembly & 3 Others, the court granted an injunction restraining the Senate Committee from proceeding with disciplinary action against the senator. The ruling followed an ex parte application by her legal counsel.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, had been summoned by the committee following an altercation with Akpabio on February 20, 2025. She asked the court to issue an order restraining the Senate and its ethics committee from proceeding with the investigation and to declare any such actions taken during the suit as null and void.
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Justice Egwuatu also ordered the defendants to show cause within 72 hours of being served why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted.
Dissatisfied with the court’s decision, Senator Akpabio filed an appeal through his counsel, Deborah D. Anyanwu, seeking several reliefs, including an extension of time to file an appeal and a stay of proceedings at the Federal High Court.
The motions—identical in content but filed on different dates were struck out by the Court of Appeal on May 21, 2025, after Akpabio’s legal team applied to withdraw them. A three-member panel led by Justice Hamma A. Barka also ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in legal costs to the 1st Respondent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court’s enrolled order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine J. Ekperobe, confirmed the motions’ withdrawal and indicated that Appeal No CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 is to be deleted.
THE CONCLAVENG
