Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, was brought by Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others. The plaintiffs argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension was unlawful and sought her immediate reinstatement, claiming that her absence would deny proper representation to their senatorial district.
However, in a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Omotosho held that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi—the legal right to bring the action—and subsequently dismissed the suit for lacking merit.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on March 6, 2025, for allegedly violating the Senate’s standing rules. Her office in the National Assembly, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, was sealed during the period of her suspension.
Despite the sanction, the senator maintained that she continued to fulfill her responsibilities and never abandoned her duties. After completing the six-month suspension, she officially resumed office on September 23, 2025, when officials of the National Assembly unsealed her office. The unlocking of the office was carried out by Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
Her return was met with a show of support from her followers, who had accompanied her from the FCT High Court, where she was attending a separate defamation case involving Senate President Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Although the Senate is currently on recess, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption marks the end of a contentious episode. The senator had previously challenged her suspension in court, hoping to resume her duties earlier. However, the Senate maintained that it would not revisit the issue until the legal proceedings were concluded.
The Senate has defended its decision, stating that adherence to internal rules is critical to maintaining institutional integrity. The matter is still under legal review, pending a decision from the Court of Appeal.
