Nigeria’s Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, has taken his legal fight over the suspension of Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Supreme Court, escalating a dispute that has increasingly blurred the line between judicial process and political rivalry.
Court documents dated 1 December 2025, seen on Sunday, confirm that Akpabio has asked the apex court to overturn a recent judgment of the court of appeal in Abuja, which struck out the federal government’s brief of argument in the case linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The court of appeal had ruled that the brief was incompetent for failing to comply with mandatory provisions of its rules on form and procedure. Although Akpabio publicly claimed that the brief was struck out “illegally”, certified records of proceedings show that the decision was grounded squarely in established legal requirements.
In its ruling, the appellate panel found that the brief breached several rules, including the use of an incorrect font size and line spacing, exceeding the 35-page limit, and failing to obtain leave of court to depart from the prescribed format. The court also held that the notice of appeal itself was defective, concluding that the violations were substantive and undermined the competence of the appeal.
Unhappy with the outcome, Akpabio has now invited the Supreme Court to intervene. His decision to personally pursue the case has drawn public attention, with some legal and political observers describing it as unusual for a serving Senate president.
Sources within the National Assembly said Akpabio had been closely tracking the case and showing intense interest in its outcome, fuelling concerns in parts of the legal community about the wider implications for institutional boundaries.
The litigation is also coloured by a long-running political tension between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan. The first-term senator has gained prominence for her outspoken criticism of Senate leadership — a posture that insiders say has unsettled the Senate president.
“This matter has clearly moved beyond the courtroom. It has become a political contest for relevance and dominance,” one National Assembly source said. Within ruling party circles, there are claims that powerful interests expect Akpabio to rein in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rising profile.
In his notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, Akpabio argued that the court of appeal violated his right to a fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to regularise the defective brief or to exceed the page limit. He asked the court to set aside the proceedings of 28 November 2025, nullify the judgment and allow him to refile his brief in compliance with the rules.
Lawyers to Akpoti-Uduaghan have confirmed that they have been served with the appeal papers. While expressing confidence in the judiciary, they dismissed the move as a desperate attempt to overturn a lawful decision.
“Yes, we have been served. But this is just another needless misadventure that will lead to nowhere,” one of her lawyers said privately.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months in March 2025 after protesting the relocation of her seat during plenary, a move she said was politically motivated. She accused Akpabio of targeting her and at one point described him as a “dictator”.
Although the suspension formally elapsed in September, she was unable to return immediately because of ongoing legal proceedings and resistance from Senate leadership. Her office was later reopened by the sergeant-at-arms, and she resumed her duties, insisting she had “no apology to tender”.
With both sides now headed to the Supreme Court, the dispute has once again captured national attention, underscoring the deep strains within Nigeria’s legislature and the high political stakes surrounding the case.
