Victor EzejaPresident of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed the Federal High Court’s judgment ordering the Senate to lift the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Prime Business Africa reports that the notice of appeal was submitted to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday, 14 July 2025.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Senate President is contesting the ruling delivered on 4 July by Justice Binta Nyako, who deemed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as excessive and a breach of her constituents’ right to representation.
While acknowledging the Senate’s constitutional authority to discipline its members, Justice Nyako determined that Natasha’s suspension was excessive in length and nature.
The court fined the Kogi lawmaker ₦5 million for contempt, citing a satirical Facebook post made during the proceedings that allegedly violated an earlier restraining order.
However, Natasha filed an appeal, challenging the contempt ruling on jurisdictional grounds.
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She argued that the trial court lacks the authority to hear a contempt charge based on conduct that occurred ex facie curiae, or outside the courtroom.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team has filed a cross-appeal challenging the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the matter involves internal parliamentary affairs that are beyond judicial scrutiny under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate President’s 11-ground appeal faulted the trial court for dismissing his preliminary objection and making pronouncements that, in his opinion, violate the legislative autonomy guaranteed by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Akpabio contended that parliamentary procedures, such as suspensions, plenary speeches, and Senate resolutions, are immune to judicial interference.
The appeal also argued that Natasha’s suit was premature because it did not exhaust internal mechanisms, specifically the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as required by Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended).
Akpabio also accused the trial judge of denying him a fair hearing by raising and ruling on issues that neither party discussed, such as whether the suspension was excessive. He referred to this as a breach of judicial neutrality.
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Furthermore, the appellant criticized the court for combining interlocutory reliefs and substantive claims, which Akpabio’s lawyers claimed violated legal procedure.
They also argued that the suit should have been dismissed for failing to comply with Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act, which requires a three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly before beginning legal proceedings.
Akpabio is asking the appellate court to hear his appeal, overturn the Federal High Court’s decision, and uphold the Senate’s disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Privileges, and Public Petitions and other internal processes as mandated by the Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended).
In addition, Akpabio claimed that the trial judge had denied him a fair hearing by bringing up and ruling on matters that neither side had addressed, such as whether the suspension was excessive. This violates judicial neutrality, he said.
Additionally, the appeal criticized the court for combining substantive claims with interlocutory reliefs, a move that Akpabio’s attorneys claimed was unethical.
Additionally, they contended that the suit ought to have been dismissed for violating Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act, which requires the Clerk of the National Assembly to be notified three months in advance of the start of legal proceedings.
By allowing his appeal, Akpabio is requesting that the appellate court overturn the Federal High Court’s ruling and uphold the Senate’s disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
