Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the case challenging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension after Senate President Godswill Akpabio questioned his impartiality in a petition.
READ ALSO: Senator Natasha takes battle against Akpabio to UN
The case was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, but when it was called, Justice Egwuatu announced his recusal and ordered that the case file be sent to the Chief Judge for reassignment
His decision follows an interim order he issued on March 4, which barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged violations of legislative rules.
Despite the order, the committee proceeded with a hearing and suspended the senator for six months. Justice Egwuatu later modified his ruling, allowing the Senate to continue its activities while the case was ongoing.
Akpabio, through his legal team led by senior lawyer Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), had challenged the court’s authority to interfere in Senate matters.
