The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio seeking to appeal a Federal High Court judgment that restrained disciplinary proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ordering Akpabio to pay N100,000 in costs

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]kpabio Akpoti-Uduaghan Court saga has seen a new development at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

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The motions sought permission to appeal a Federal High Court judgment that had previously barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The motions, dated March 20 and March 25, 2025, aimed to challenge the March 10, 2025, decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

Justice Egwuatu’s ruling, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, had granted an ex parte application by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, restraining the Senate Committee from proceeding with disciplinary action.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, was initially summoned by the Senate Committee following an altercation with Senate President Akpabio on February 20, 2025.

In her application, the Kogi senator prayed for an order restraining the Senate and its ethics committee from “proceeding with the purported investigation” against her and “declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this suit is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”

The presiding judge at the Federal High Court had ruled that the defendants should show cause within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued.

Dissatisfied with this decision, Senator Akpabio, through his Counsel, Deborah D. Anyanwu, filed an appeal, seeking orders to enlarge the time to seek leave to appeal, grant leave to appeal, enlarge time to file a Notice of Appeal, and stay further proceedings in the Federal High Court suit.

However, in a decision delivered on May 21, 2025, a three-member panel of Justices at the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamma A. Barka, struck out both identical motions. This followed an application by Akpabio’s legal team to withdraw them.

The court’s enrolled order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine J. Ekperobe, confirmed, “Application seeking to withdraw the two Motions dated and filed on the 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and same struck out. Cost of N100,000 awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”

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Justice Barka delivered the lead judgment, with Justices Adebukunola A. Banjoko and Okon E. Abang concurring, marking a notable turn in the ongoing Akpabio Akpoti-Uduaghan Court proceedings.