Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed a counter-affidavit at the Supreme Court opposing an appeal by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Court documents obtained in Abuja show that the counter-affidavit, marked SC/CV/1111/2025, was submitted by a Senior Legislative Aide to Akpoti-Uduaghan in response to Akpabio’s Motion on Notice dated January 21, 2026.
The respondents urged the Supreme Court to “dismiss the application,” calling it “lacking merit and an abuse of court process.” They argued that the Court of Appeal had already concluded hearings in the substantive appeal on November 28, 2025, and reserved judgment, describing Akpabio’s approach to the Supreme Court as an attempt to interfere with ongoing appellate proceedings.
The counter-affidavit also noted that Akpabio was given full opportunity to present his case at the Court of Appeal, while Akpoti-Uduaghan’s brief of argument was properly filed and never challenged. It alleged that Akpabio’s brief exceeded the 35-page limit under the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, and was not regularised in time, leading the court to decline its admission.
Further, the respondents contended that the grounds of appeal raised issues of mixed law and fact without prior leave of court, rendering the appeal incompetent. They denied any denial of fair hearing, asserting that the Court of Appeal exercised its discretion judicially, and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the application as a stalling tactic.
The move comes a week after Akpabio again approached the Supreme Court over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which stemmed from a February 2025 Senate plenary session following a recommendation by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the suspension at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which on July 4, 2025, ruled the action excessive and unconstitutional. Although her six-month suspension has ended, the legal dispute continues, with Akpabio seeking leave to appeal at the Supreme Court, while Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that the suspension violated her constitutional right to fair hearing.
