The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ordered him to pay ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The decision was handed down by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka on May 21, 2025. The ruling followed Akpabio’s request to withdraw his motions, initially filed to challenge a Federal High Court decision involving Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The motions, dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, were listed under suit numbers CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025. In both cases, Akpabio sought to extend the timeline and obtain leave to appeal a March 10, 2025, ruling by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The respondents in the matter included Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Among the reliefs sought by Akpabio were an extension of time to appeal, leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and a stay of further proceedings at the Federal High Court pending the outcome of his proposed appeal.
However, upon Akpabio’s application to withdraw the motions, the Court of Appeal granted the request, struck out both motions, and awarded ₦100,000 in costs to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“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,” the court ruled, also ordering that Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 be deleted.
The ruling marks a legal victory for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been locked in multiple court battles involving her role in the Senate and allegations of defamation against Akpabio.
