Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio’s cross-appeal comes in response to the Federal High Court’s decision that ruled the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan as unconstitutional, excessive, and infringing on the rights of her constituents to representation in the National Assembly.
Akpabio’s eleven grounds of appeal argue that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, and that Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
Akpabio contends that the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, including suspending serving senators, and that no constitutional rights were breached in the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio alleges that the judge breached his right to a fair hearing by raising and determining the issue of the suspension’s excessiveness without allowing him to respond.
Akpabio’s cross-appeal contrasts with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal, which challenges the N5 million fine imposed on her by the same court for contempt over a satirical Facebook post.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed readiness to resume duties, urging the National Assembly to treat her notification with urgency, while the Senate insists that the judgment did not explicitly direct it to recall the suspended senator