Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, has petitioned the Supreme Court on the legal dispute resulting from Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The move was confirmed in some available court documents dated December 1, 2025, made available to our correspondent on Sunday.
The development came after the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, recently ruled that the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal pertaining to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was invalid.
The appellate court determined that the brief was incompetent because it did not adhere to the formatting and procedural requirements of the Court of Appeal Rules.
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Despite Akpabio’s public assertion that the brief was stricken out “illegally,” sources were able to get certified documents of the proceedings, which demonstrated that the court’s decision was solely based on the law.
The brief exceeded the 35-page limit, used the incorrect font size and line spacing, and failed to get permission from the court to deviate from the guidelines, according to the judges’ findings.
Additionally, the court determined that the Notice of Appeal was flawed.
The whole brief was struck out after the panel determined that the infractions were serious and had an impact on the appeal’s competence.
However, the public has taken notice of his decision to personally pursue the matter, with some political and legal commentators characterising it as out of the ordinary for a Senate President.
Some in the legal profession have expressed alarm over statements made by sources within the National Assembly that Akpabio had been actively monitoring the case and demonstrating a strong interest in its conclusion.
The ongoing political conflict between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan has also influenced the case.
Insiders claim that the Senate President is uncomfortable with the first-term senator’s vocal criticism of Senate leadership.
“This matter has clearly moved beyond the courtroom. It has become a political contest for relevance and dominance,” a National Assembly source said.
There are also rumours in the ruling party circles that powerful people want the Senate President to stop Akpoti-Uduaghan from becoming more well-known.
Akpabio claimed in his Supreme Court Notice of Appeal that the Court of Appeal had breached his right to a fair hearing by not allowing him to regularise the flawed brief or go above the page limit.
He asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the ruling, set aside the November 28, 2025, proceedings, and permit him to submit his brief again in accordance with the regulations.
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Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsels have confirmed being served with the court documents,
While expressing confidence in the judiciary, they described the appeal as a desperate move to overturn a lawful decision.
“Yes, we have been served. But this is just another needless misadventure that will lead to nowhere,” one of the Kogi senator’s lawyers told our correspondent in confidence.
She accused Akpabio of targeting her and once described him as a “dictator.”
Despite the fact that the suspension ended in September, she was unable to return right away because of persistent legal problems and opposition from Senate leadership.
Later, Sergeant-at-Arms officials reopened her office, and she went back, stating that she had “no apology to tender.”
The matter has garnered significant public interest once more, with both sides now appealing to the Supreme Court.
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