Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from hearing the case filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
This decision was based on a petition submitted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who challenged Justice Egwuatu’s impartiality in the matter.
Despite the case being scheduled for a hearing, Justice Egwuatu announced his recusal, stating that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
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Previously, Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order on March 4th, halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was accused of violating Senate rules.
He directed that the disciplinary proceedings be suspended pending the resolution of the lawsuit filed by the senator.
Justice Egwuatu also granted the defendants 72 hours to explain why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued to prevent them from investigating the plaintiff for alleged misconduct, without affording her the rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
He authorized the plaintiff to serve the Originating Summons and related documents to the defendants through substituted means, either by delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, posting them at the National Assembly premises, or publishing them in two national newspapers.
These interim orders were issued following an ex-parte application and an affidavit of urgency submitted by the senator.
However, the Senate Committee proceeded with its sitting despite the court orders and imposed a six-month suspension on the plaintiff.
Subsequently, in response to an application from the defendants, Justice Egwuatu modified his earlier interim order, removing the provision that barred the Senate from taking any action during the pendency of the suit.
Senate President Akpabio, through his legal team led by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, had challenged the court’s authority to intervene in the internal affairs of the Senate.
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