In a surprising turn of events, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja recused himself from hearing the case filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday.
The decision followed a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who raised concerns about the judge’s impartiality in the matter.
Although the case was scheduled for hearing, the court’s clerk called the matter before Justice Egwuatu, who delivered a brief ruling announcing his decision to step down.
He ordered that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
This development comes after Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order on March 4, halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from continuing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The suspended senator is accused of violating rules within the legislative body, and the judge had ruled that the proceedings be paused until the case was resolved.
Read Also: INEC receives petition seeking Natasha’s recall
In his interim order, Justice Egwuatu had given the defendants 72 hours to explain why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued to prevent them from probing Akpoti-Uduaghan without granting her constitutional privileges.
He also authorized the plaintiff to serve the legal summons through substituted means, either by handing them to the Clerk of the National Assembly or posting them at the Assembly’s premises and publishing them in two national newspapers.
Despite the court’s interim order, the Senate Committee proceeded with its sitting and handed Akpoti-Uduaghan a six-month suspension. Subsequently, after an application from the defendants, Justice Egwuatu amended his order, lifting the aspect that prohibited Senate activities while the case was pending.
The Senate President, through his legal team led by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, challenged the court’s authority to interfere in Senate matters, raising further questions about the judicial oversight of legislative processes.
