By Uche Amunike
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has just struck out two motions filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio against Senator Natasha Akpoti, while also slamming him with a fine of N100,000.
The motions were struck out on May 21, 2025 by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, after the request for withdrawal of the appeal.
The motions dated March 3, 2025 and March 25, 2025, also marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, listed Senator Akpabio as the appellant, while the respondents were Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuem.
Senator Akpabio sought the following reliefs in the appeal: ‘An order of this Honorable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honorable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025 on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.’
‘An order of this Honorable Court granting leave to the Appellant/Applicant to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honorable Justice | Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025, on Grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal attached as Exhibit B.’
‘An order of this Honorable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may file their Notice of appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honorable Justice Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025.’
‘An order of this Honorable Court staying further proceeding in Suit No: FCH/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honorable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), pending the hearing and determination of the Appellant/Applicant’s appeal before this honorable court.’
In its ruling, the court held thus: ‘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.’
According to court documents, the appellate court granted the request of the Senate President on May 21, issuing an order to immediately stop proceedings at the Federal High Court, pending when the appeal is resolved.
The three-man panel of judges also upheld the argument that continuing the lower court’s case could render the appellate court’s decision ineffective if it eventually overturns the High Court’s ruling.
