By Court Dismisses Akpabio’s Motions
Fines Him ₦100,000 in Legal Face-off with Akpoti-Uduaghan
Summary
- The Court of Appeal in Abuja struck out two motions by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, fining him ₦100,000 in a dispute with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
- The ruling is part of a broader conflict involving allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate suspension
- The case continues with a hearing set for June 25, 2025, amid escalating public and legal tensions
Abuja, Nigeria — The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a major setback to Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his ongoing legal battle with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, the court struck out two interlocutory motions filed by Akpabio and imposed a ₦100,000 fine payable to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motions, dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, sought an extension of time to appeal a March 10 ruling by the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
That ruling stemmed from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s challenge to her controversial six-month suspension from the Senate, which she alleges was politically motivated and orchestrated by Akpabio to suppress her.
Akpabio’s legal team withdrew the motions during the hearing, admitting they had been “overtaken by events.” Justice Barka promptly struck them out and levied the fine, a symbolic yet significant moment in a case that has increasingly captured national attention.
The dispute is part of a wider political and legal clash between the two senators, involving grave accusations of sexual harassment, defamation, and abuse of office.
Akpoti-Uduaghan claims her March 6 suspension followed a disagreement over Senate seating and her refusal to submit “returns” to Akpabio in her capacity as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content. She further alleges that the suspension was retaliation for rejecting his sexual advances.
On June 5, 2025, two Federal Capital Territory High Courts summoned both Akpabio and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi to respond to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of rights violations, with a joint hearing scheduled for June 25, 2025.
Meanwhile, the legal battles have multiplied. Akpoti-Uduaghan now faces defamation charges brought by the federal government after she accused Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination. She insists she will submit supporting evidence, including an alleged death threat, during the proceedings.
In another twist, Akpabio has filed a separate lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan over a satirical apology video she posted, claiming it breached a court order.
Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan has disowned a viral audio clip and video purportedly showing her accusing Akpabio of blackmailing President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a “malicious voice-cloning attack.”
The unfolding drama has ignited public discourse across Nigeria. Prominent voices such as former Minister Oby Ezekwesili have condemned Akpabio’s actions, accusing him of abusing state power and calling for his immediate suspension pending an independent investigation by the Senate.
On social media platform X, Nigerians remain divided. Some criticize Akpabio’s alleged authoritarian tactics, while others question the consistency and timing of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations.
With the June 25 court date looming, the political temperature continues to rise. The Court of Appeal’s latest ruling adds another layer to an already complex and highly charged confrontation, one that raises profound questions about power, justice, and accountability at the heart of Nigeria’s legislature.
