The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The move was confirmed in some available court documents dated December 1, 2025, made available to our correspondent on Sunday.
The development followed a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure.
Although Akpabio publicly claimed that the brief was struck out “illegally,” certified records of proceedings obtained by The PUNCH showed that the court based its decision strictly on the law.
The justices found that the brief breached several rules, including using the wrong font size and line spacing, exceeding the 35-page limit, and failing to obtain leave of court to depart from the rules.
The court also held that the Notice of Appeal itself was defective.
The panel ruled that the violations were substantive and affected theappeal’s competence, leading to the brief being struck out in its entirety.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Akpabio has now asked the Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
His decision to personally pursue the case has, however, attracted public attention, with some legal and political observers describing it as unusual for a Senate President.
Sources within the National Assembly alleged that Akpabio had been closely following the case and showing intense interest in its outcome, claims that have raised concerns among sections of the legal community.
The case has also been coloured by the long-running political tension between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The first-term senator has gained prominence for her outspoken criticism of Senate leadership, a stance insiders say has unsettled the Senate President.
“This matter has clearly moved beyond the courtroom. It has become a political contest for relevance and dominance,” a National Assembly source said.
Within the ruling party circles, there are also claims that influential interests expect the Senate President to curb Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rising profile.
In his Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, Akpabio argued that the Court of Appeal violated his right to a fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to regularise the defective brief or exceed the page limit.
He urged the apex court to set aside the proceedings of November 28, 2025, nullify the judgment and allow him to refile his brief in line with the rules.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsels have confirmed being served with the court documents,
While expressing confidence in the judiciary, they described the appeal as a desperate move to overturn a lawful decision.
“Yes, we have been served. But this is just another needless misadventure that will lead to nowhere,” one of the Kogi senator’s lawyers told our correspondent in confidence.
The PUNCH reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months in March 2025 after protesting the relocation of her seat during plenary.
She accused Akpabio of targeting her and once described him as a “dictator.”
Although the suspension elapsed in September, she could not resume immediately due to ongoing legal issues and resistance from Senate leadership.
Her office was later reopened by officials of the Sergeant-at-Arms, and she returned, insisting she had “no apology to tender.”
With both sides now heading to the Supreme Court, the case has once again drawn intense public attention.
Akpabio heads to Supreme Court over Natasha suspension case
