ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated the legal battle arising from the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Supreme Court, challenging a ruling of the Court of Appeal that struck out his brief of argument on procedural grounds.
Sources in Abuja disclosed on Monday that Akpabio’s legal team filed a notice of appeal, asking the apex court to set aside the appellate court’s decision, which it described as fundamentally flawed and prejudicial.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the appeal after ruling that the brief filed on behalf of the Senate President was incompetent and in breach of the Court of Appeal Rules.
In its decision, the appellate court held that the brief failed to comply with mandatory procedural requirements, including the use of unauthorised font size and line spacing, exceeding the prescribed 35-page limit, and the failure to seek leave of court to regularise the defects.
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The court ruled that the violations were not mere technical errors but substantive breaches that affected the competence of the appeal, thereby rendering it liable to be struck out.
Akpabio, however, contends that the Court of Appeal denied him the right to fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to amend the defective processes or to regularise the brief, insisting that the court adopted an overly rigid approach to procedural compliance.
His decision to approach the Supreme Court follows the appellate court’s position that procedural discipline is a mandatory requirement, not a discretionary consideration.
The case has continued to generate political interest, with analysts suggesting that beyond the legal questions, the dispute reflects simmering power struggles within the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has maintained that the Court of Appeal acted within the law, expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold the ruling.
According to sources close to the Kogi Central senator, the appeal represents a final attempt to overturn a decision reached through due judicial process.
Several Senate insiders also point to prolonged tensions between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, noting that the first-term lawmaker’s assertive posture and frequent challenges to Senate leadership have unsettled entrenched interests within the chamber.
A senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the dispute had grown beyond a legal disagreement.
“This matter has moved from the courtroom into a struggle over authority and control within the Senate,” the lawmaker said.
The Supreme Court is yet to fix a date for hearing the appeal.