SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the July 4 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja that ordered the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate following her suspension.
In the notice of appeal, Akpabio argues that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to intervene in what he describes as the internal affairs of the National Assembly.
His legal team cited Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution, contending that matters such as suspensions and parliamentary procedures are beyond judicial reach.
The 11-ground appeal criticizes the lower court’s dismissal of Akpabio’s preliminary objection and its decision to grant reliefs that allegedly interfered with legislative functions protected by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Akpabio maintains that the dispute should have first gone through the Senate’s internal mechanisms, including the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, in line with Senate Standing Orders.
He also accused the trial court of violating his right to a fair hearing by addressing issues not raised by either party, including the appropriateness of the suspension’s duration.
Furthermore, he challenged the merging of interlocutory and substantive reliefs, and argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to provide the statutory three-month notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly as required under the Legislative Houses Act.
Among his prayers, Akpabio is urging the appellate court to overturn the lower court’s judgment, strike out Senator Natasha’s applications for duplicating reliefs, and dismiss the suit entirely for lack of jurisdiction.
He is also asking the court to invoke Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to resolve his preliminary objection and render a final verdict in his favour.