SUPREME COURT DISPUTE: NATASHA SEEKS DISMISSAL OF AKPABIO’S APPEAL

SUPREME COURT DISPUTE: NATASHA SEEKS DISMISSAL OF AKPABIO’S APPEAL


February 3, 2026 | 10:25 am

Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has filed a counter-affidavit at the Supreme Court seeking the dismissal of an appeal lodged by Senate President Godswill Akpabio concerning her suspension.

Court documents filed in Abuja, marked SC/CV/1111/2025, indicate that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team is urging the apex court to dismiss the appeal as lacking merit and an abuse of court process. The counter-affidavit argues that the Court of Appeal had already concluded hearing the substantive appeal on November 28, 2025, and reserved judgment, making the Supreme Court application premature and an attempt to interfere with ongoing proceedings.

The filing also noted procedural issues with Akpabio’s submission, including exceeding the 35-page limit prescribed by the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, and raising matters of mixed law and fact without prior leave, which render the appeal incompetent according to the respondents.

The counter-affidavit maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan was given full opportunity to present her case at the Court of Appeal, and her brief of argument was properly filed and not challenged. It further contended that claims of denial of fair hearing are unfounded, emphasizing that the appellate court exercised its discretion judicially.

This legal battle stems from a plenary session in February 2025, which led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension following a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. She successfully challenged the suspension at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ruled on July 4, 2025, that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional.

Despite completing her six-month suspension, the dispute has continued, with Akpabio seeking leave to appeal at the Supreme Court, while Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that the suspension violated her constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The Supreme Court is yet to rule on the counter-affidavit and the pending appeal.

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