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Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused himself from hearing the lawsuit filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The judge stepped down from the case on Tuesday following a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, challenging his impartiality.
Although the suit was initially scheduled for hearing, Justice Egwuatu announced his decision in a brief ruling, stating that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
The development comes after Justice Egwuatu, on March 4, issued an interim order halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan. The lawmaker was accused of violating Senate rules, but the judge ruled that the process should be suspended until the determination of her suit.
In his ruling, Egwuatu directed the defendants to justify within 72 hours why the court should not grant an interlocutory injunction restraining them from investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged misconduct without ensuring her constitutional rights.
He also allowed the senator to serve court documents on the defendants through substituted means, including pasting notices at the National Assembly and publishing them in national newspapers.
Despite the court’s orders, the Senate Committee proceeded with its hearing and suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. Subsequently, Justice Egwuatu modified his earlier interim order by removing the restriction that barred the Senate from taking action while the case was ongoing.
Senate President Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), had contested the court’s authority to interfere in Senate affairs, prompting further legal debates surrounding the case.
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