In a significant legal development, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and imposed a ₦100,000 fine, which has been ordered to be paid to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ruling, which was delivered on May 21, 2025, was issued by a three-member panel chaired by Justice Hamman Barka, following Akpabio’s formal request to withdraw the motions.
The certified true copy of the decision became publicly available on the evening of Tuesday, June 10, 2025, and has since sparked considerable discussion in legal and political circles.
The motions in question, designated as CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, had been filed in March 2025. Through these applications, Akpabio had sought multiple reliefs, primarily aiming to secure an extension of time to file an appeal against a prior judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 10, 2025.
That judgment involved Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the lead plaintiff. Other parties listed as respondents in the Federal High Court matter included the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, who currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The decision to withdraw the motions was made by Akpabio’s legal team, though the reasons for the withdrawal were not detailed in the ruling. Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal proceeded to strike out the motions and determined that the fine of ₦100,000 be awarded to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as compensation for the proceedings.
Akpabio’s motions read:
“An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu), delivered on March 10, 2025, on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.”
“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the Appellant/Applicant to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), delivered on March 10, 2025, on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal attached as Exhibit B.”
“An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may file their Notice of Appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), delivered on March 10, 2025.”
“An order of this Honourable Court staying further proceedings in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), pending the hearing and determination of the Appellant/Applicant’s appeal before this Honourable Court.”
However, the Appeal Court struck out the motions and imposed a ₦100,000 fine.
The court ruled:
“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. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”