Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reportedly escalated the legal dispute surrounding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to the Supreme Court.
Akpabio’s decision follows his dissatisfaction with a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief in the matter. The appellate court held that the filing was fundamentally flawed and failed to meet the mandatory requirements outlined in the Court of Appeal Rules.
The court cited several procedural breaches, including the use of an unauthorised font size and spacing, exceeding the stipulated 35-page limit, and the failure to seek the court’s permission to regularise the errors before filing.
According to a reports, Akpabio’s legal team has now approached the Supreme Court, urging the apex court to overturn the Appeal Court’s decision. His lawyers argue that the case was dismissed on technical grounds rather than on its merits and insist that the ruling amounted to a denial of his constitutional right to fair hearing.
They contend that the Court of Appeal ought to have allowed corrections to the defective brief or granted leave to exceed the page limit, rather than striking out the appeal outright.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has played down the move, describing it as a final attempt to reverse a decision they believe was reached in strict compliance with the law. They expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold the appellate court’s judgment.
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Sources within the Senate suggested that the prolonged legal battle has evolved beyond the courtroom into a broader struggle for influence. Despite Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate after her suspension, tensions between both lawmakers reportedly remain unresolved.
“This matter has gone beyond legal arguments,” a source said. “It has turned into a contest for authority and control.”
