Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down from the case involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The judge made this announcement on Tuesday, citing a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio that questioned his impartiality.
Originally assigned to hear the case, Justice Egwuatu ruled to recuse himself after the court clerk called the case for hearing. He indicated that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who faced accusations of violating Senate rules. The judge had ruled that the disciplinary process should not continue until the matter was resolved in court.
Despite the court’s ruling, the Senate Committee proceeded with its meeting and subsequently suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. Justice Egwuatu had allowed the senator to serve legal documents on the defendants through alternative means, including delivery to the Clerk of the National Assembly and publication in national newspapers.
The situation has raised questions about the court’s authority to intervene in Senate affairs, with Akpabio’s legal team challenging the court’s involvement.
