The legal battle over the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has escalated as Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Supreme Court to challenge rulings from lower courts in the dispute. 

The latest development comes after months of courtroom exchanges and conflicting court decisions over the six-month suspension handed to the senator in early 2025. In newly filed Supreme Court documents, Akpabio seeks to have his appeal recognised and heard despite procedural hitches raised by the Court of Appeal. 

Court filings filed on January 21, 2026, show that Akpabio listed himself as the appellant in the Supreme Court matter, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions cited as respondents. The motion seeks orders allowing the Senate President to pursue his appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact and to deem his filings as properly filed and served. 

The dispute dates back to a plenary session in February 2025, when Akpoti-Uduaghan openly challenged procedures in the Senate, prompting her case to be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. That committee recommended her suspension from participation in Senate activities. 

After the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on July 4, 2025, that the suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, Akpoti-Uduaghan notified the Senate of her intention to resume duties. However, the Senate initially declined her return, citing pending legal matters as justification. 

The Court of Appeal later struck out portions of Akpabio’s filings and awarded costs in favour of the senator. The Supreme Court filing now aims to overturn that ruling and grant Akpabio the right to present his case on the merits at the nation’s highest judicial forum. 

Akpabio’s legal team maintains that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers to regulate its internal procedures under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, and that the disciplinary steps taken were lawful responses to unruly conduct during plenary. They argue that procedural technicalities should not bar substantive review of the case at the Supreme Court. 

On the other side, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently insisted that her suspension was unlawful, that she was denied a fair hearing, and that Senate Standing Orders were not properly followed before she was barred from legislative duties. Her legal team has already been served with the Supreme Court processes and is expected to respond to Akpabio’s appeal. 

The case also includes related legal questions, such as contempt rulings from earlier court processes triggered by social media posts and actions taken during the pendency of the dispute. 

Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s decision in this matter could have wide-ranging implications for Nigeria’s constitutional order, particularly in clarifying the limits of legislative discipline and the extent to which judicial review can intersect with internal parliamentary proceedings. The dispute highlights tensions between legislative autonomy and constitutional rights, a debate that is now before the highest court in the land. 

As of now, no Supreme Court date has been announced for hearing the matter, but both parties are expected to make detailed legal submissions in the coming weeks.