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, representing Kogi Central, over the legality of her six-month suspension from the Senate.
A three-member panel of justices took the decision after lawyers from both sides formally adopted their briefs of argument in open court.
Akpabio, through his team of lawyers, is asking the appellate court to overturn the judgment of the Federal High Court, which had earlier nullified the lawmaker’s six-month suspension.
The lower court had ruled that the suspension was unconstitutional and a breach of her constituents’ right to representation.
Arguing his position, the Senate President’s counsel maintained that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, describing the matter as one that falls under the internal affairs of the National Assembly.
His lawyers emphasised that such disputes are protected from judicial interference under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Lead counsel for Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), stated in the cross-appeal notice that the trial judge also made wrong calls by issuing orders that, according to him, interfered with parliamentary procedures and Senate processes.
On her part, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had already returned to her seat following the lower court decision, challenged Justice Binta Nyako’s ruling, which slammed her with a ₦5m fine over a satirical Facebook post.
She argued that the contempt judgment, which came while her rights suit was still pending, breached her fundamental rights and had no legal foundation.
Naijaonpoint reports that Natasha’s suits were originally filed to stop the Senate from probing her for alleged misconduct, insisting that the chamber had no basis to launch the investigation in the first place.
The appeals are marked CA/ABJ/CJ/739/2025, CA/ABJ/CJ/1208/2025 and others linked to her fundamental rights suit FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, which sought to stop the Senate from interrogating or investigating her.
During the session, Eko Ejembe Eko (SAN), representing Akpabio, withdrew one of the cross-appeals, explaining that the development had been overtaken by events since the senator had already resumed her position in the red chamber.
As a result, the appeal that was withdrawn was dismissed, while the court also dismissed the withdrawn cross-appeal and dismissed it immediately.
During the proceedings, Akpabio, through his lawyer, said the cross-appeal was no longer relevant for consideration, stating, “The appeal has been overtaken by events because Akpoti-Uduaghan has already returned to the Senate.”
The court then dismissed the withdrawn appeal.
Reacting earlier on the controversy surrounding her suspension, a Kogi political elder had said, “Representation is sacred. No political body should silence a constituency for raising its voice through its elected officer.”
Another constitutional law analyst added, “The law recognises order, but it also defends fairness. Disputes labelled ‘internal affairs’ must still stand the test of constitutional morality.”
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