See Why the Court Told Senate President Akpabio to Pay Natasha ₦100,000

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out two motions filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and ordered him to pay a ₦100,000 fine to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The ruling, delivered on May 21, 2025, by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, followed Akpabio’s decision to withdraw the motions. A certified true copy of the court’s decision surfaced on Tuesday night, revealing the legal setback for the Senate President.

The motions—marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025—were filed by Akpabio in March. In the documents, he sought leave to appeal a Federal High Court ruling delivered on March 10, 2025, in a suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suit listed the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as respondents.

Akpabio’s application requested:

• An extension of time to seek leave to appeal the judgment,
• Leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact,
• An extension of time to file his notice of appeal, and
• A stay of further proceedings in the matter.

However, the Court of Appeal declined the reliefs after Akpabio applied to withdraw the motions.

The court stated:

“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.”

The development marks a minor legal victory for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been challenging what she described as unjust treatment by the Senate leadership regarding committee processes and oversight.

See Why the Court Told Senate President Akpabio to Pay Natasha ₦100,000

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out two motions filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and ordered him to pay a ₦100,000 fine to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The ruling, delivered on May 21, 2025, by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, followed Akpabio’s decision to withdraw the motions. A certified true copy of the court’s decision surfaced on Tuesday night, revealing the legal setback for the Senate President.

The motions—marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025—were filed by Akpabio in March. In the documents, he sought leave to appeal a Federal High Court ruling delivered on March 10, 2025, in a suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suit listed the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, as respondents.

Akpabio’s application requested:

An extension of time to seek leave to appeal the judgment,

Leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact,

An extension of time to file his notice of appeal, and

A stay of further proceedings in the matter.

However, the Court of Appeal declined the reliefs after Akpabio applied to withdraw the motions.

The court stated:

“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.”

The development marks a minor legal victory for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been challenging what she described as unjust treatment by the Senate leadership regarding committee processes and oversight.

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