The Court of Appeal in Abuja has thrown out two legal motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against a Federal High Court ruling that stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motions, filed on March 20 and 25, 2025, were aimed at challenging a judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on March 10, 2025.
That judgment had stopped the Senate Committee from going ahead with any investigation or disciplinary move against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The senator, who represents Kogi Central, was earlier summoned by the committee following a clash she had with Akpabio during a Senate session on February 20, 2025.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the court through her legal team, asking for an order to stop the committee from probing her.
She also requested that any action taken while the case was ongoing be declared invalid.
The Federal High Court granted her request, and the committee was directed not to proceed until further notice.
Not pleased with this outcome, Akpabio appealed and asked the Court of Appeal to allow him to challenge the ruling.
He also requested more time to file a notice of appeal, and asked that the court halt any further proceedings in the case until his appeal was heard.
However, during the court session on May 21, 2025, Akpabio’s legal team chose to withdraw both motions.
The court accepted the withdrawal and struck out the applications.
The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka, also ordered Akpabio to pay ₦100,000 to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for legal costs.
The court further instructed that the related appeal number, CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025, be removed from its records. Justice Barka delivered the lead decision, with Justices Adebukunola Banjoko and Okon Abang agreeing.
The ruling brings an end, for now, to the legal challenge Akpabio brought against the earlier Federal High Court order that protected Senator Natasha from facing Senate committee action.
