Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking to overturn a ruling of the Court of Appeal that struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the matter.
It was learnt in Abuja yesterday that Akpabio’s legal team is asking the apex court to intervene, arguing that the appellate court’s decision against the Senate President was flawed and unjust.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had ruled that Akpabio’s brief was fundamentally defective and incompetent for failing to comply with mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules.
The court cited several procedural breaches, including the use of unauthorised font size and line spacing, exceeding the 35-page limit, and the failure to seek leave to regularise the defects.
Akpabio’s move to the Supreme Court followed the Appeal Court’s finding that the violations were not mere technical lapses but substantive breaches that went to the competence of the appeal.
The Senate President contends that the appellate court denied him his constitutional right to fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to amend the defective brief or allow an extension beyond the prescribed page limit.
The dispute has heightened speculation over political undertones, with observers describing the case as a contest not only of legal positions but of authority and influence within the Senate.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has expressed confidence in the judiciary, describing the Supreme Court appeal as a last-minute attempt to overturn a decision reached in line with the law.
Sources within the Senate say the case reflects deeper tensions between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, whose relationship has reportedly been strained for months.
The Kogi Central senator, a first-term lawmaker, has drawn national attention for her assertive posture and readiness to challenge Senate leadership, a stance some insiders say unsettles the chamber’s power structure and the ruling party.
A senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the matter had moved beyond legal argument. “This is no longer just a legal disagreement; it has become a struggle over authority and control,” the source said.
Analysts describe the Appeal Court ruling as a major setback for the Senate President, noting that it arose from avoidable procedural lapses rather than the substance of the case.
They add that the loss, triggered by non-compliance with formatting and page limits, has fuelled speculation that the Supreme Court appeal is driven largely by political damage control.
