National Assembly Rejects Legal Fees Demand in Akpoti Case

The National Assembly formally rejected a demand for payment of legal fees from the law firm Ojukwu Chikaosolu & Co. concerning its representation in a legal dispute involving Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Assembly clarified that the firm was engaged by the Office of the President of the Senate, not the Office of the Clerk, which is the recognized channel for hiring external solicitors.

This position was communicated in a pre-action response dated July 20, 2026, from the Directorate of Legal Services. Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, the lead counsel, accused the Clerk to the National Assembly and the Director of Legal Services of undermining Senate President Godswill Akpabio's authority and called for their resignations.

The National Assembly's response indicated that there was no contractual relationship between the Clerk's office and the law firm, emphasizing that external legal representation must be processed through the Directorate of Legal Services.