The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed two motions brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following his request to withdraw the filings.
The appellate court’s decision, delivered by a panel of three justices chaired by Justice Hamman Barka on May 21, 2025, also came with a cost penalty of ₦100,000, awarded to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the first respondent in the case.
The certified true copy of the court’s ruling became publicly accessible on Tuesday night, confirming the dismissal of the motions. Both motions, which were dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, bore the markings CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025 respectively, and had Akpabio listed as the appellant. Respondents to the motions included Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate itself, and Senator Neda Imasuem, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The Senate President had pursued multiple forms of judicial relief in his filings. Among his appeals were requests for an extension of time to file an appeal against a judgment issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 10, 2025, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
That ruling was delivered by Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu. Akpabio also sought the court’s permission to file an appeal on grounds that combined elements of law and fact, as detailed in his attached proposed Notice of Appeal. Additionally, he had asked the appellate court to pause proceedings in the original suit pending the resolution of his appeal.
Despite the detailed nature of his submissions, Akpabio ultimately filed an application to retract the two motions. Upon reviewing this withdrawal request, the Court of Appeal agreed and consequently struck out both motions. In doing so, the court did not shy away from applying a financial sanction, ordering Akpabio to pay a sum of ₦100,000 to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court’s official pronouncement read: “Application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and the motions are struck out. Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”
Akpabio’s initial filing had sought to delay further action in the Federal High Court case while his appeal was being considered, a move now nullified by his decision to pull back from the appellate process. With the appeal now deleted and the motions no longer active, the legal route he had intended to pursue has effectively ended.
What you should know:
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has abandoned his appeal against a Federal High Court decision involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Court of Appeal not only dismissed the motions following Akpabio’s withdrawal request but also imposed a ₦100,000 cost against him in favor of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
