Akpabio loses at appeal court, ordered to pay ₦100,000 to Natasha

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out the motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ordering him to pay a ₦100,000 fine to embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The ruling was delivered on May 21, 2025, by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, following Akpabio’s request to withdraw the motions.

A certified true copy of the decision surfaced on Tuesday night.

The motions, marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, were filed in March 2025.

Akpabio had sought multiple reliefs related to extending time to appeal an earlier judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on March 10, 2025.

The Federal High Court case involved Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as lead plaintiff, with the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, listed as respondents.

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.”