Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from a case involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after Senate President Godswill Akpabio questioned his impartiality.
The judge, who had been assigned to hear the matter, announced his decision on Tuesday, March 25. Although the case was set for hearing, he declared in court that he was stepping aside and 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. He ruled that the committee must halt proceedings until the case was determined.
He also ordered the defendants to explain within 72 hours why the court should not stop them from investigating her without following procedures outlined in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
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Additionally, he permitted the senator to serve court documents on the defendants through substituted means—either by delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly or pasting them within the National Assembly premises, as well as publishing them in two national newspapers.
Despite the court’s directive, the Senate Committee went ahead with its proceedings and suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
Subsequently, Justice Egwuatu amended his earlier order, removing the restriction that prevented the Senate from taking action while the case was ongoing.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, challenged the court’s authority to interfere in Senate affairs.