Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who was assigned to hear a suit filed by the suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has recused himself from the case.
Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja linked his decision to a petition from the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, challenging his objectivity.
When called up by the court’s clerk on Tuesday, Justice Egwuatu revealed his decision in a short ruling he delivered.
According to him, the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for a reassignment to another judge.
On March 4, Egwuatu issued an interim order that stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceeding that was initiated against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged flouting of rules of the legislative house.
The judge ruled that the disciplinary process should be placed on hold pending the determination of the suit brought before him by the embattled female lawmaker.
Egwuatu also gave the defendants 72 hours to show cause why it should not issue an order of interlocutory injunction to stop them from probing the plaintiff for alleged misconduct, without affording her the privileges stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Ignoring the court order, the Senate Committee held its sitting and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was given a six-month suspension.
Justice Egwuatu amended the interim order he issued in favour of the plaintiff after an application by the defendants.
The judge vacated the aspect that barred the Senate from undertaking any activity within the pendency of the suit.
Through his lawyers, Senate President Akpabio questioned the powers of the court to meddle in the affairs of the Senate.