The Digest:
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated his legal challenge to the Supreme Court, contesting rulings that nullified the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Akpabio applied to regularise his appeal after the Court of Appeal upheld a July 2025 Federal High Court judgment that declared the senator's six-month suspension excessive and unconstitutional. The dispute originated from a February 2025 plenary where Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of privilege, leading to a committee recommendation and subsequent suspension. While she resumed duties in September 2025 after serving the suspension, the legal battle over its validity continues at the apex court.
Key Points:
- The case tests the boundaries between legislative autonomy and judicial oversight regarding internal parliamentary discipline.
- It creates continued political uncertainty for the involved senator and the leadership of the Senate.
- The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will set a significant precedent for how lawmakers can challenge sanctions imposed by their chambers.
- The appeal prolongs a high-profile conflict within the National Assembly, potentially impacting legislative cohesion.
- It underscores the use of the judiciary as a primary arena for resolving political disputes among elected officials.
Sources: The Punch
