News
Appeal withdrawn, not dismissed: Setting the record straight on Senator Natasha’s media manipulation
By Monday O. Ubani, SAN
When I saw the recycled news from some bloggers and news outlets, I felt I need to offer a succinct and accurate clarification on the status of the pending legal matter between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and key officers of the National Assembly, currently before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and presided over by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako over her suspension matter.
At our last court appearance, the matter was fully heard, and judgment was reserved for the 27th of June 2025. This remains the true and correct position.
However, in light of ongoing media misinformation, especially orchestrated by blogs known for sensationalism and political manipulation, it is necessary to set the record straight regarding the interlocutory appeal and its withdrawal
Background to the Interlocutory Appeal
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a suit at the Federal High Court to challenge a summons by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions regarding her unparliamentary conduct during plenary sometime in February this year. The matter was initially assigned to Hon. Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Upon ex parte application, Justice Egwuatu granted wide-reaching interim orders. As the matter progressed, parties filed their respective processes. A key procedural disagreement emerged: Senator Natasha’s lawyers insisted that all pending applications, including preliminary objections and the substantive originating summons, be heard together. Conversely, counsel representing the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate Committee on Ethics, and Senator Akpabio maintained that the preliminary objections should be heard and determined first.
Justice Egwuatu ruled that he would like to take all applications jointly. The legal team representing the Senate felt that the judge had exercised his discretion improperly, particularly in a politically sensitive matter like this one. They filed an interlocutory appeal challenging this procedural decision, seeking what is traditionally referred to as the “trinity prayers”: leave for extension of time for leave to appeal, leave to appeal, and enlargement of time to file the notice of appeal. They also sought a stay of proceedings at the lower court.
Change of Judge and Redirection of the Case
While the appeal was pending, Justice Egwuatu took two major steps. First, he vacated the earlier ex parte order that was far-reaching. Second, he recused himself from the matter entirely.
The case was reassigned to Hon. Justice Binta Nyako. Her handling of the matter was both procedurally sound and legally strategic. She ruled that she would consider all applications collectively but would prioritize ruling on the preliminary objections and contempt application before turning to the substantive issues raised by Senator Natasha. This approach, being fair and judicious, was well received by the legal team representing the Senate.
On the appointed day, she heard all the applications and reserved judgment for the 27th of June, 2025.
Why the Appeal Became Academic
Given that all applications had now been heard and judgment reserved, the motion for leave to file interlocutory appeal filed against Justice Egwuatu’s ruling became moot. Continuing with it would have been legally unnecessary and tactically unwise. Justice Egwuatu is no longer handling the case, and so who will the legal team be appealing against? The legal team therefore filed a motion to withdraw the appeal. The motion was heard and granted. The Court of Appeal struck out the motion and awarded a routine cost of ₦100,000 against the appellants.
Propaganda Masquerading as Legal Victory
Shockingly, over two weeks after the appeal was withdrawn, known propaganda blogs began circulating misleading reports, claiming that the withdrawal of the appeal amounted to a legal victory for Senator Natasha. This distortion of fact is both mischievous and insulting to the intelligence of the legal community.
Let the truth be told: no appeal was “dismissed on its merits” as falsely portrayed. The motion was withdrawn by the appellants themselves because it had become irrelevant. That decision was rooted in sound legal judgment, not defeat. Pursuing a now-academic appeal would only waste judicial resources and make a mockery of the process.
A Pattern of Manipulation
This recent media spin is emblematic of Senator Natasha’s broader public relations strategy, an endless stream of press statements, online propaganda, and contrived narratives designed to keep her name trending. Whether through partisan bloggers or pseudo-journalists, the goal appears to be to paint herself as a persecuted hero, regardless of the actual legal substance.
This includes ludicrous and unsubstantiated allegations ranging from sexual harassment and assassination plots to organ harvesting and bribery. Yet, despite the gravity of these criminal claims, not a shred of credible evidence has been produced.
Conclusion: Law, Not Lies, Will Prevail
It is crucial to emphasize that courtrooms, not newsrooms or social media platforms, remain the appropriate venues for establishing truth through evidence. The sensationalism peddled by Natasha’s online proxies may win the battle of hashtags, but it will not stand the test of judicial scrutiny.
In the end, it is not noise but evidence that determines credibility. The courts will decide based on facts and law, not on manipulated headlines.
We remain confident in our legal position and trust the wisdom of the court to deliver justice in due course.
•Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN, is Legal Adviser to the President of the Senate
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election, is peeved at the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is a heavy blow and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
Justice Peter Lifu, who made the order, based on an action brought by National Forum of Former Legislators, agreed that the parties, including Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), failed to meet the requirement for continued existence in Nigeria.
But Obi, who left the ADC coalition to join the NDC, incidentally, based on what he explained resulted from the multiple court cases hanging on its neck, expressed his disenchantment, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday.
Signed by Ibrahim Umar, its spokesman, the group quoted the former Governor of Anambra State as decrying the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions on the altar of politics.
Stressing that the rise of nations depended on stronger institutions devoid of political influences, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, wrote on his X platform: “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all. To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Not even Lamine Yamal’s second half introduction could help Spain break through the defence of debutants, Cape Verde, in their first ever meeting, as the ongoing World Cup event produced another one of the stunning results on Monday.
Yamal, the Barcelona superstar just recovering from a near two-month hamstring injury, was brought into the game in the second half to zest up the one-time world champion, but failed to break down the Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Spain’s in the game played in Atlanta, one of the cities hosting the three-nation Mundial, displayed the same dismal outing, which saw them offering far less than the quality, which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.
The European champions, which have not won a knockout game ever since, failed to dominate the African side, replicating their less than impressing outings and their eventual exit in 2018 and 2022 editions, even with the claims of coach Luis de la Fuente that the squad was the best in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament.
Neither Yamal nor Nico Williams, who also was hit by an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute, were able to rise to the occasion against the 500,000 people African side, ranked 67 in the world, which is making their debut on the global stage.
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.
Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
The only serious move from the European champions only came at the sixth minute to half-time, when Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.
Even after the break, the Blue Sharks, were also able to hold back from the onslaught as they did in the first half, where Vozinho, managed to make another superlative save against Aymeric Laporte’s header just before half-time.
Despite the excitement from the crowd after he was introduced, Yamal, billed as one of the stars of the tournament, failed to create any magic with his first touch being the set-up of a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
In fact, Cabo Verde billed to take on Uruguay in Miami, nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon, who saved the occasion, to prevent the former world champions, billed to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday from humiliation.
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Columns4 weeks agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News2 weeks agoBREAKING: Terrorists strike Ibadan again! Abduct ex-Minister’s sister, twin children
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Wait over! Arsenal are CHAMPIONS! Win EPL after 22 years hiatus
-
Columns3 weeks agoSee Tinubu’s terrible damage on Option A4 and its precious memories
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Jonathan emerges presidential candidate *Gets automatic PDP ticket!
-
News4 weeks agoPresidency: Obi met all requirements – NDC *Cleared to contest primaries
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Troops rescue wife of kidnapped General! *Terrorists flee scene