- Court reserves judgment on Akpabio and Akpoti Uduaghan suspension appeals.
- Akpabio contests jurisdiction while Akpoti challenges fine and procedure.
- One cross appeal withdrawn as senator already resumed seat.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday reserved judgment in the appeal and cross-appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan over the legality of her six-month suspension from the Senate.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a three member panel reached the decision after lawyers on both sides formally adopted their written briefs in open court. Akpabio is asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, which earlier nullified the suspension and declared it unconstitutional. The lower court held that the action violated both the lawmaker’s rights and those of her constituents.
Arguing for Akpabio, his legal team insisted that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the matter concerns the internal affairs of the National Assembly. They referenced Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution and the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act to support their argument that such disputes are not open to judicial review. Lead counsel Kehinde Ogunwumiju said the trial judge went beyond her powers by issuing directives that interfered with Senate procedures.
Senator Akpoti Uduaghan, who has since returned to her seat following the high court ruling, also filed an appeal challenging the five million naira fine imposed on her by Justice Binta Nyako over a satirical post on Facebook. She argued that the contempt ruling lacked legal basis and violated her fundamental rights since her main suit challenging the suspension was still pending at the time.
The appeals, marked CA ABJ CJ 739 2025, CA ABJ CJ 1208 2025 and others connected to her rights suit, sought to stop the Senate from interrogating or investigating her. During the proceedings, Akpabio’s counsel withdrew one of the cross appeals, explaining that it had been overtaken by events since the senator had already resumed legislative duties. The panel dismissed the withdrawn appeal and cross appeal accordingly.
A political elder from Kogi earlier described the issue as one that touches on democratic representation, while a constitutional law analyst noted that even matters claimed as internal affairs must align with constitutional principles.
