Abuja-based Justice Obiora has withdrawn from handling the case involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing a petition filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This development occurred on Tuesday during the scheduled hearing for the suit.
In response to the petition questioning his impartiality, Justice Egwuatu has decided to return the case file to the Chief Judge, who will reassign it to a different judge. On March 4, Justice Egwuatu issued an interim order, which halted the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from pursuing disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The senator faces allegations of violating Senate rules. According to the order, the disciplinary process cannot proceed until a decision is made in the case. Additionally, the judge gave the defendants 72 hours to provide reasons why the court should not prevent them from investigating the senator without adhering to the guidelines outlined in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Justice Egwuatu allowed Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve legal documents on the defendants via alternative means. The documents were to be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly or posted at the National Assembly premises, as well as published in two national newspapers.
The interim order was granted following an urgent application filed by the senator. However, despite this ruling, the Senate Committee proceeded with their meeting, resulting in her six-month suspension.
Subsequently, the defendants applied for an amendment to Justice Egwuatu’s initial order. The judge then removed the provision that prohibited the Senate from taking any action while the case was ongoing.
Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that the court lacked the authority to intervene in Senate affairs. Consequently, this led to the recent decision of Justice Egwuatu to step down from the case.
