June 11, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two interlocutory motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ordered him to pay ₦100,000 in costs.
The motions, marked CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 and dated March 20 and 25, 2025, were filed in response to a suit by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.
In the motions, Akpabio sought leave to appeal the March 10, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which was delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
The suit is between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and two others.
Akpabio’s motions asked the appellate court for extensions of time to seek leave to appeal, permission to appeal the lower court’s decision on grounds of mixed law and fact, and a stay of proceedings in the lower court pending the outcome of the appeal.
However, during proceedings, Akpabio’s legal team moved to withdraw the motions, stating that they had been overtaken by events.
The court granted the application for withdrawal and struck out the motions.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamman Barka, delivered the ruling on May 21, 2025. The court also awarded costs of ₦100,000 to the first respondent, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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 is to be deleted.”
Akpabio was the appellant in the case, while the respondents were Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
