Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
Justice James Omotosho held that the ten plaintiffs lacked standing, saying only the suspended senator herself could bring the challenge.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a case filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, challenging the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, was initiated by Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others, who sought to nullify the suspension.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the action. He noted that only the directly affected senator had the authority to challenge the matter in court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been suspended on March 6 for six months over alleged violations of Senate rules. However, on September 23, she returned to her office after the National Assembly unsealed it, ending the suspension period.
Her resumption was celebrated by supporters who accompanied her from a separate court session, where she was facing a defamation case involving Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello. Although the Senate is on recess, her return was seen as a victory by her followers.
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