FCT, Abuja – Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the federal high court, Abuja, who was assigned to hear a suit that was filed by the suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, recused himself from the case.
As reported on Tuesday, March 25, by Vanguard, the trial judge cited a petition the Senate President Godswill Akpabio wrote to challenge his objectivity in the matter. Channels Television also noted the development.
Justice Egwuatu recuses self from Natasha’s case
Though the suit was originally fixed for hearing, however, when the matter was called up by the court’s clerk, Justice Egwuatu, announced 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.
Legit.ng recalls that Justice Egwuatu had on Tuesday, March 4, 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 an allegation that she flouted rules of the legislative house. He held that the disciplinary process should be placed on hold, pending the determination of the suit that was brought before him by the embattled female lawmaker.
Moreso, Justice Egwuatu gave the defendants in the matter, 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.
He granted permission for the plaintiff to serve the Originating Summons and all the accompanying processes on all the defendants, through substituted means.
It held that they should be served by handing the processes to the clerk of the national assembly or by pasting them on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two national dailies. The interim orders followed an ex-parte application and an affidavit of urgency that was brought before the court by the lawmaker.
However, despite the orders of the court, the Senate Committee held its sitting and slammed the plaintiff with a six-month suspension.
Following an application by the defendants, Justice Egwuatu subsequently amended the interim order he issued in favour of the plaintiff, by vacating the aspect that barred the senate from undertaking any activity within the pendency of the suit.
Akpabio had through his team of lawyers led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), queried the powers of the court to meddle in the affairs of the senate.
Senator Natasha rejects purported apology
The senator, who was suspended following a heated exchange with the senate leadership, maintained that she remains committed to standing by her principles and defending the rights of her constituents.
