- The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
- A fine of ₦100,000 was imposed in favor of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
- The ruling was delivered on May 21, 2025, by a three-judge panel led by Justice Hamman Barka.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and imposed a ₦100,000 fine in favor of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The decision, handed down on May 21, 2025, was made by a three-judge panel led by Justice Hamman Barka after Akpabio moved to withdraw the applications.
A certified copy of the ruling became public on Tuesday evening.
The motions—referenced as CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025 were initially submitted in March 2025. In them, Akpabio sought permission to file an appeal out of time against a judgment issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 10, 2025.
The Federal High Court case had Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the main complainant. Other respondents included the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Akpabio’s motions read:
“An order of this Honourable 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 Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable 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 Honourable 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 Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable 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 Honourable 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 Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), delivered on March 10, 2025.”
“An order of this Honourable Court staying further proceedings in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), pending the hearing and determination of the Appellant/Applicant’s appeal before this Honourable Court.”
However, the Appeal Court struck out the motions and imposed a ₦100,000 fine.
The court ruled:
“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.”
