Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, challenging the legality of the six months suspension slammed on the Kogi Central Senator Natasha Uduaghan-Apoti over alleged misconduct.
The suit instituted by one Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others was thrown out by the judge on the grounds that they have no locus standi (legal authority) to bring the case before the court.
Marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, the suit challenged the validity of the suspension of Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan for various reasons.
The plaintiffs cited several reasons for challenging the suspension, notably that their Senatorial District would be underrepresented in the Senate.
In his judgment on Friday, October 3, Justice Omotosho held that the 10 plaintiffs lacked locus standi to Institute the action.
He subsequently dismissed their suit for want of merit.
Persecondnews recalls that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 following allegations of insubordination after she rejected a change of her designated seat during plenary.
The suspension, based on recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges, and salaries.
The lawmaker had previously claimed her suspension was a result of her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an accusation the Senate has rejected.
Upon the expiration of her six-month suspension, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office was unsealed on Tuesday, September 23.
She is now set to rejoin the Senate once plenary resumes on October 7.
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