Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court yesterday excused himself from the suit instituted by the representative of Kogi Central in the senate, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking to prevent the lawmakers from investigating her.
The presiding judge announced his withdrawal from the case, saying he would return the file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
Recall that the plaintiff had approached the court, seeking an order to restrain the senate committee on ethics and privileges from investigating her over alleged misconduct.
In an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan sued the clerk of the national assembly, the senate, the senate president and the chairman of the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions, Mr Neda Imasuen.
In a ruling on March 4, 2025, Egwuatu issued an order barring the committee from probing Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, despite being served with the court’s order, according to the plaintiff, the senate committee went ahead to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
The action prompted the plaintiff to file contempt proceedings against the defendants.
On March 19, Egwuatu, in another ruling, set aside his earlier order of March 4, which stopped the senate from probing the plaintiff for alleged misconduct.
During the resumed sitting yesterday, the judge, after taking appearances from the counsel in the matter, announced his decision to withdraw from the case.
He cited an allegation of bias from the third defendant, the senate president, as the primary reason for his decision.
It was alleged that the senate president expressed a lack of confidence in the court’s ability to handle the matter impartially.
“The case file will be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment,” the judge said.
