Senate suspension row: Akpabio drags Natasha to Supreme Court

The legal conflict over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has escalated as Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court. Court documents filed on Thursday reveal that Akpabio is seeking to regularize his appeal against previous lower court rulings that favored the Kogi Central representative.

The dispute began in February 2025 following a heated plenary session where Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns over procedural breaches. Following a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, the lawmaker was suspended, a move she immediately challenged in court as a violation of her right to a fair hearing.

In July 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in her favor, describing the Senate’s disciplinary action as excessive and unconstitutional. Despite this victory, Akpabio is now asking the apex court for an extension of time to appeal, arguing that the Senate has the constitutional power to regulate its own internal affairs.

Akpabio contends that he was under no obligation to rule immediately on the Senator’s points of privilege and maintains that the disciplinary process was lawful. He argues that Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution grants the National Assembly the authority to manage its internal procedures without judicial interference.

On her part, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that the Senate leadership failed to follow its own standing orders and denied her a fair trial. Her legal team has confirmed being served with the Supreme Court processes, even as she recently resumed her legislative duties following the expiration of the six-month suspension.

The case is further complicated by a related contempt issue where the Senator was fined for a social media post made while the suit was pending. Legal experts suggest that the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will be a landmark decision regarding the limits of legislative discipline and the extent of judicial oversight.

This move by the Senate President comes as a surprise to many, following his recent public announcement that he would withdraw pending court cases against his political adversaries. The outcome of this battle remains a focal point for those monitoring the balance of power between Nigeria’s legislative and judicial branches.