BREAKING: Judge steps down from Natash’s case following Akpabio’s petition

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused himself from hearing a suit filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The judge’s decision follows a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, questioning his objectivity in the case.

The suit was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, but Justice Egwuatu announced in a brief ruling that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

It can be recalled that on March 4, Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged rule violations.

He ruled that the proceedings should be paused until the case was determined.

Furthermore, he directed the defendants to justify within 72 hours why the court should not issue an order preventing them from investigating the senator without following due process as outlined in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

The court also granted Akpoti-Uduaghan permission to serve legal documents on the defendants via substituted means, such as delivering them to the National Assembly Clerk or publishing them in newspapers.

Despite these court orders, the Senate Committee proceeded with its hearings and imposed a six-month suspension on the senator.

Later, following a request from the Senate’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Justice Egwuatu amended his initial order by lifting the restriction on the Senate’s activities while the case was ongoing.

Akpabio’s legal team had contested the court’s authority to intervene in the internal affairs of the Senate, leading to the judge’s decision to step down from the case.

The matter will now be reassigned to a new judge for further proceedings.