Justice Obiorah Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the case wherein Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking to stop a Senate probe over her alleged act of misconduct.
The case was adjourned on March 10 for relevant documents to be served on all parties in the case. But Justice Egwuatu, during the proceedings announced his decision to cease from playing any further part in the matter.
In a short ruling, Justice Egwuatu cited alleged bias levelled against him by one of the respondents as the reason for his decision.
He therefore ordered that the case file be transferred to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge for the continuation of the case.
Justice Egwuatu had on March 10 set aside its earlier order nullifying the Senate’s suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct. She sought an order of the Court stopping the Senate from investigating her alleged misconduct during the February 20 plenary, which led to her suspension.
