The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has delivered a significant ruling in the ongoing legal battle between the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a judgment delivered on May 21, 2025, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, struck out two motions filed by Akpabio and awarded costs of ₦100,000 against him.
The motions, dated March 3, 2025, and March 25, 2025, were filed by Akpabio in relation to a suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuem. Akpabio had sought several reliefs, including an order enlarging the time within which he may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, in the suit.
The suit was filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Imasuem, and Akpabio subsequently filed two motions seeking to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court. The motions were listed for hearing before the Court of Appeal, but Akpabio later applied to withdraw them.
The Court of Appeal granted Akpabio’s application to withdraw the motions and struck them out. In its ruling, the court held that the motions were without merit and awarded costs of ₦100,000 against Akpabio. The court also ordered that the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025, be deleted.
The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court’s decision to strike out the motions and award costs against Akpabio suggests that the court did not find merit in the motions. The outcome of the case highlights the importance of carefully considering the merits of a case before filing an appeal.
The ruling also underscores the need for litigants to approach the courts with clean hands and to avoid filing frivolous motions that can clog the court’s dockets. The award of costs against Akpabio serves as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to file meritless motions.
In conclusion, the Court of Appeal’s ruling striking out Akpabio’s motions and imposing a fine of ₦100,000 against him is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the two senators. The ruling highlights the importance of carefully considering the merits of a case before filing an appeal and serves as a reminder of the need for litigants to approach the courts with clean hands.
Source: The Punch Newspaper
