By Austin Ogwuda
…. Senate President says Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court erred in law by asking the Senate to recall her
Dissatisfied by the recent judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, Nigeria, the Senate has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division challenging the order of the court directing it to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from suspension.
The appeal, marked CA/A//2025, stems from suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, which was instituted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to contest her suspension.
In the Notice of Appeal, Akpabio is appealing on 11 grounds and asking the Appellate Court to set aside the judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, noting that the court went beyond its constitutional powers by offering what they describe as “advisory opinions” to the Senate on how it should handle the recall of a suspended member.
In the Notice of Appeal, Akpabio’s Legal team argues that the trial court went beyond its constitutional powers by offering what they describe as ‘advisory opinions’ to the Senate on how it should handle the recall of a suspended member.
They further insist that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the Senate or to recommend amendments to the Senate Standing Orders.
And therefore sought the following relief:
i) AN ORDER of this Honourable Court allowing this cross-appeal.
ii) AN ORDER of this Honourable Court setting aside the parts of the decision of the Lower Court where the Lower Court dismissed the Appellant’s preliminary objection, and opined that (i) the 6 month suspension of the 1st Respondent was excessive and (ii) it believed that the 3rd Respondent should recall the 1st Respondent to the Senate.
iii) AN ORDER of this Honourable Court striking out duplicated reliefs contained in the 1ª Respondent’s application for interlocutory injunction, application for mandatory injunction and originating summons.
iv) AN ORDER of this Honourable Court invoking the powers of this Honourable Court under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to determine the Appellant’s notice of preliminary objection and dismiss the 1st Respondent’s suit at the lower Court for want of jurisdiction.
Natasha decries alleged selective justice
Embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly had sometime last month cried out in what she escribed as ‘DISPARITY IN ATTENTION TO PETITIONS’.
She condemned the refusal by the law enforcement and prosecutorial bodies to investigate the litany of pending petitions she filed but were quick to jump at Federal Government case filed against her.
She, through her lawyers, listed those pending cases she filed earlier, as follows:
*March 11, 2025 – Petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding cyber stalking, hate speech and discriminatory conduct by Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi
*March 25, 2025, – Personal petition to the IGP raising security concerns about Senator Godswill Akpabio
*March 31, 2025 – Petition to the IGP on the withdrawal of police security detail and immediate safety risks
*April 4, 2025 –Petition exposing an assassination plot implicating Senator Akpabio and Former Governor Yahaya Bello
*April 24, 2025 – Legal request for status updates on prior petitions, emphasizing abduction and security threats
*April 28, 2025 – Petition on conspiracy, abduction and attempted assassination of her protocol officer, Hon Jude Sule
*April 29, 2025 – Internal Police Communication on abduction, threats, instructing investigation by the DCP Monitoring Unit
*May 2, 2025 – Petition detailing cyberstalking and Defamation by Senator Nwebonyi
*May 6, 2025 – Petition addressing cyberbullying and misrepresentation by Dr Sandra Duru; among others.
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