Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a case brought against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which questioned the legality of the six-month suspension handed to Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct.
The matter, filed by Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others, was dismissed after the judge ruled that the applicants lacked locus standi (legal standing) to institute the case. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, had challenged the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on several grounds.
The claimants had asked the court to annul her suspension, arguing that their Senatorial District was being denied proper representation, and urged her immediate reinstatement. Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Omotosho declared that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to proceed, and therefore dismissed the case for lack of merit.
Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed work at the National Assembly on September 23 after completing the six-month suspension imposed on March 6 over alleged violation of Senate standing orders. Despite the sanction, she maintained that she continued serving her constituents without dereliction of duty.
Her office at Suite 2.05 in the Senate Wing, sealed during the suspension, was reopened by Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, marking her return. She was accompanied by loyal supporters from the FCT High Court, where she had attended a defamation matter filed by Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
Although the Senate is currently on recess, her followers celebrated her reinstatement after the long break. Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier contested the suspension in court, seeking an earlier recall, but the Senate maintained that her suspension would only be revisited once judicial processes were concluded.
The case remains subject to appellate review, as the Senate insists that its decision was guided by adherence to internal regulations and the need to preserve institutional order.
