Appeal Court Dismisses Akpabio’s Motions Against Senator Natasha, Orders N100,000 Costs

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against a Federal High Court ruling that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from disciplining Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The appellate court also ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in costs to the Kogi Central senator.

The motions, dated March 20 and 25, 2025, sought to appeal the March 10 judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. In that case—Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025—Justice Egwuatu granted an injunction stopping the Senate Committee from investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan following a dispute she had with Akpabio on February 20, 2025.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the Federal High Court through an ex parte application, praying for an order to halt the Senate’s proceedings against her. She also asked the court to declare any such action taken while her case was pending as null and void. Justice Egwuatu granted the interim relief and ordered the defendants to show cause within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued.

In response, Akpabio, through his counsel Deborah D. Anyanwu, filed motions seeking permission to appeal the High Court’s ruling. Among the reliefs sought were extensions of time to file an appeal and a stay of proceedings in the Federal High Court matter.

However, during proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio’s legal team applied to withdraw both motions. The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma A. Barka and including Justices Adebukunola A. Banjoko and Okon E. Abang, granted the withdrawal and struck out the motions on May 21, 2025.

The court’s enrolled order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine J. Ekperobe, also confirmed that the appeal with the reference number CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 be removed from the court’s records. In addition to striking out the motions, the court ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.