President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has taken the authorized battle over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Supreme Courtroom.
The transfer marks a brand new part within the long-running dispute between the 2 lawmakers.
Courtroom filings point out that Akpabio, performing in his official capability as President of the Senate, is asking the apex courtroom to intervene in choices already taken by decrease courts on the matter.
The attraction is aimed toward sustaining the Senate’s place and overturning rulings that questioned the legality of the suspension.
The swimsuit earlier than the Supreme Courtroom names Akpabio because the appellant. These listed as respondents embody Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the Nationwide Meeting, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.
The controversy traces again to a heated Senate plenary session held in February 2025. In the course of the sitting, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, raised points referring to parliamentary privilege and alleged breaches of process. Her actions later grew to become the topic of deliberations throughout the chamber.
Following the plenary, the matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. After its assessment, the committee really helpful disciplinary measures, which culminated in her suspension from Senate actions. The choice instantly triggered public reactions and sharp divisions inside political circles.
Sad with the result, the Kogi lawmaker approached the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja. She argued that the method resulting in her suspension violated her proper to truthful listening to and did not observe the Senate’s Standing Orders.
In a judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, the courtroom examined the powers of the legislature, inside parliamentary procedures, and the extent to which courts can intervene in legislative affairs.
The case later moved to the Courtroom of Enchantment, the place additional authorized questions emerged. With the appellate courtroom proceedings not resolving the dispute to his satisfaction, Akpabio has now turned to the Supreme Courtroom for last dedication.
In his software, the Senate President is looking for permission to regularise his attraction. He’s asking for an extension of time to use for depart to attraction, approval to attraction on points involving each legislation and details, and an order validating his discover of attraction and filed briefs.
His argument is anchored on constitutional provisions that empower the Nationwide Meeting to control its inside affairs.
Akpabio maintains that the Senate acted throughout the authority granted to it underneath Part 60 of the 1999 Structure, as amended.
He additionally argues {that a} presiding officer isn’t compelled to instantly rule on each difficulty of privilege raised on the ground, particularly the place conduct throughout plenary is taken into account disruptive.
On the opposite aspect, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has remained agency in her place. She insists that her suspension was extreme and illegal.
In line with her, the Senate did not observe its personal guidelines earlier than referring her to the ethics committee and imposing sanctions, thereby denying her a correct alternative to defend herself.
Developments on the Supreme Courtroom have now formally drawn all events into the attraction. Her authorized staff has been served with the required courtroom processes, setting the stage for a full authorized contest earlier than the nation’s highest courtroom.
The case additionally entails a associated contempt difficulty. This arose from a social media publish made by the senator whereas the swimsuit was nonetheless pending.
A Federal Excessive Courtroom had dominated that the publish violated an current restraining order, imposed a high-quality, and directed her to difficulty a public apology. That ruling can also be underneath attraction, together with her legal professionals arguing that the alleged contempt required stricter authorized procedures.
Because the authorized battle continues, public consideration stays fastened on the case.
Nonetheless, the ultimate choice will set a long-lasting precedent on the boundaries of Senate authority and the safety of elected lawmakers inside Nigeria’s democratic system.