Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti‑Uduaghan has filed a counter‑affidavit before the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging an appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, court documents show.
The filing opposes the appeal arising from a matter before the Court of Appeal.
The counter‑affidavit was deposed to by a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan and filed in response to Akpabio’s Motion on Notice dated January 21, 2026, according to court records sighted in Abuja.
In the filing, the respondents urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the application in its entirety, asserting that it “discloses no prima facie good cause and constitutes an abuse of court process.”
The documents state that the Court of Appeal had concluded hearing in the substantive appeal on November 28, 2025, and reserved judgment.
The counter‑affidavit further contends that approaching the Supreme Court at this stage amounts to interference with an appellate process that is at an advanced stage and awaiting final determination.
It also asserts that Akpabio was afforded ample opportunity to present his case before the Court of Appeal and that the legal brief filed by Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan was procedurally compliant and before the lower court.
A central issue highlighted in the filing relates to an alleged breach of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, which prescribe a maximum of 35 pages for briefs of argument.
The respondents said Akpabio’s brief exceeded the prescribed limit and was not regularised within the required timeframe, resulting in the Court of Appeal declining to admit it before proceeding to hear the appeal on valid filings.
On substantive legal points, the counter‑affidavit states that the grounds of appeal relied upon raise mixed issues of law and fact, and that prior leave of court was mandatory before such grounds could be competently filed.
It also notes that the decision to grant or refuse adjournment lies within the discretionary powers of the court and maintains that the Court of Appeal exercised this discretion judiciously.
The filing concludes by urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, describing it as an attempt to delay or frustrate the delivery of judgment by the Court of Appeal.
The appeal before the Supreme Court stems from ongoing legal proceedings related to Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s suspension and its legal challenges, which have been the subject of litigation in multiple courts, including the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan has filed a counter‑affidavit at the Supreme Court opposing Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s appeal.
The respondents urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, citing procedural issues and arguing that the appeal constitutes an abuse of court process.
