Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from a case involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
The judge, who was initially assigned to hear the matter, announced his decision to step aside on Tuesday. His withdrawal followed a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who questioned his impartiality.
Although the case was scheduled for hearing, Justice Egwuatu declined to proceed when the court clerk called it up. He stated that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Earlier, on March 4, Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was accused of violating Senate rules. The judge ruled that the process should be halted until the case was decided. He also gave the defendants 72 hours to justify why the court should not stop them from investigating the senator without following due process under the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Justice Egwuatu further allowed Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve legal documents on the defendants through substituted means, including delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly or pasting them at the National Assembly premises. Additionally, the documents were to be published in two national newspapers.
Despite the court’s order, the Senate Committee proceeded with its disciplinary hearing and suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
Following an application from the defendants, Justice Egwuatu later amended his order, removing the restriction that prevented the Senate from taking any action while the case was ongoing.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, challenged the court’s authority to intervene in Senate affairs.
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