Judge recuses self from Natasha’s case

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Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who was assigned to hear a suit filed by the suspended lawmaker from Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, recused himself from the case on Tuesday.

The judge made this decision based on a petition from Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, challenging his impartiality in the matter.

Although the case was initially scheduled for hearing, when the matter was called by the court’s clerk, Justice Egwuatu announced his decision in a brief ruling.

He stated that the case file would be sent back to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

It’s worth noting that Justice Egwuatu had, on March 4, issued an interim order halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from continuing with disciplinary action against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over claims that she violated the rules of the legislative body.

The judge had ruled that the disciplinary process should be paused until the case brought before him by the suspended lawmaker was resolved.

Justice Egwuatu also gave the defendants 72 hours to explain why the court should not issue an interlocutory injunction to stop them from investigating the plaintiff for alleged misconduct without granting her the rights outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

He allowed the plaintiff to serve the Originating Summons and all related processes on the defendants through substituted methods.

Service could be done by delivering the documents to the Clerk of the National Assembly or by posting them at the National Assembly premises and publishing them in two national newspapers.

These interim orders came after an ex-parte application and an affidavit of urgency were filed by the lawmaker.

However, despite the court’s orders, the Senate Committee continued its proceedings and imposed a six-month suspension on the plaintiff.

After an application by the defendants, Justice Egwuatu amended his initial interim order, lifting the ban on the Senate’s activities while the case was pending.

The Senate President, through his legal team led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, questioned the court’s authority to intervene in the Senate’s internal affairs.

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