Court Fines Akpabio N100,000 for Retracting Motion Against Natasha
A court has imposed a fine of ₦100,000 on Akpabio for retracting motions against Natasha Akpoti’s lawsuit.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed two motions initiated by Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, targeting Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central. On May 21, a panel of three justices struck out the motions following Akpabio’s request for withdrawal.
The motions, dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, identified as CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, respectively, named Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as respondents.
In these motions, Akpabio sought various forms of relief, including an extension of time to appeal a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja delivered by Obiora Egwuatu on March 10, 2025.
He also sought permission to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, alongside a request to halt proceedings in the suit pending the resolution of his appeal.
Furthermore, Akpabio entreated the appellate court to issue an order staying further proceedings in the Federal High Court case (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) until the appeal’s resolution.
However, the Senate President opted to retract the applications, citing that they had been rendered moot by subsequent developments.
“The application requesting the withdrawal of the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted, and the motions are hereby struck out,” the court decreed. “Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 is to be removed.”
In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan initiated legal action to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions from undertaking disciplinary measures against her.
On March 4, Judge Obiora Egwuatu issued an injunction restraining the Senate from initiating disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan, following an ex parte application filed by her legal representatives.
Two days post-judgment, the Senate suspended the Kogi Senator for six months over allegations of gross misconduct. This decision ensued from the committee’s report on ethics, privileges, and public petitions.
On March 10, Akpabio, through his counsel Kehinde Ogunwumiju, contested the court’s jurisdiction over what he termed the “internal affairs” of legislators.
On March 19, Egwuatu vacated his March 4 order, which had restrained the Senate from suspending the Kogi Senator.
During the court session’s resumption on March 25, Egwuatu announced his recusal from the case after acknowledging the parties’ legal representatives’ appearances.
He directed that the case file be transferred to John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for reassignment, and the case was subsequently delegated to Binta Nyako.
