Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed an appeal challenging the July 4, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and advised her recall to the Senate.

In a notice of appeal dated July 14, Akpabio’s lead counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), described the ruling by Justice Binta Nyako as a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers and an intrusion into the internal workings of the National Assembly.

The appeal arises from suit FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan to contest her six-month suspension. Justice Nyako had ruled the sanction “excessive” and emphasized that it deprived Kogi Central constituents of representation.

Akpabio’s legal team presented 11 grounds of appeal, insisting the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in parliamentary matters, which are protected by both the 1999 Constitution and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

The appeal faults the court for:

·         Granting reliefs not sought by the claimant,

·         Ruling on the “excessiveness” of the suspension without hearing from all parties,

·         Ignoring procedural prerequisites like a three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly,

·         Overstepping by merging interlocutory and substantive applications, and

·         Disregarding Senate’s internal grievance resolution mechanisms, such as the Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions.

Akpabio is asking the Court of Appeal to:

·         Strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction,

·         Set aside all declaratory and mandatory orders by the trial court, and

·         Reject what he termed the court’s “advisory opinions” on legislative rules and procedure.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly, in a letter dated July 14 and signed by Charles Yoila on behalf of the Clerk, responded to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s request to resume. The letter states that the Federal High Court did not issue a binding order, but merely offered advice.

“The declaratory judgment merely advised the defendants to exercise their power to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” the response noted.
“Accordingly, you may wish to advise your client to await the action of the Senate.”

The case is now poised to become a major constitutional test on the limits of judicial oversight over legislative conduct, and the broader issue of constituents’ right to representation.