Appeal Court Strikes Out Akpabio’s Motions in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Case

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio related to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension case and imposed a fine of ₦100,000 on Akpabio.

The motions, filed on March 3 and March 25, 2025, sought to enlarge the time for appealing a March 10 Federal High Court ruling and to stay further proceedings in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, the three-member panel struck out the motions on May 21, 2025, following Akpabio’s application to withdraw them.

Akpabio’s motions requested: “An order enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal… on grounds of mixed law and fact,” and “an order staying further proceedings… pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.”

The court’s ruling read: “Application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and the motions are struck out. Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”

This judgment narrows Akpabio’s legal avenues in the dispute with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has contested her suspension vigorously.