Judge Recuses Self from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Case After Petition by Akpabio
A Federal High Court judge in Abuja has stepped down from hearing the case filed by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her suspension by the Senate. The decision follows a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, raising concerns about the judge’s impartiality.
Judge Withdraws from the Case
Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the announcement on Tuesday when the case was called for hearing. He stated that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge. This development creates another delay for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had hoped for a swift resolution to overturn her six-month suspension.
Her legal battle has already faced multiple hurdles. Just last week, the same judge reversed his earlier ruling that had temporarily halted the Senate’s disciplinary process against her. Now, with a new judge yet to be assigned, the case may face further delays.
Legal Challenges and Court Battles
The legal dispute stems from a 4 March ruling by Justice Egwuatu, which ordered the Senate to pause disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan. He had ruled that she should be granted due process before any sanctions were imposed. However, on 19 March, the judge overturned that order, agreeing with the Senate’s argument that it was too vague and could interfere with legislative authority.
Meanwhile, Akpabio has been fighting the case in court. On 20 March, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, asking to stop the Federal High Court from proceeding with the case. His legal team also requested a stay of proceedings to prevent any rulings from being made while the appeal is pending.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension and the Senate’s Response
The senator’s troubles began after a heated exchange with Akpabio during a Senate session on 20 February over seating arrangements. Following the incident, the Senate referred her to its Ethics Committee for disciplinary action. On 6 March, despite the court’s earlier injunction, the Senate suspended her for six months, citing misconduct.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought legal relief, filing for a mandatory injunction and contempt proceedings against Senate officials for ignoring the court’s order. The Federal High Court initially scheduled a hearing for 25 March to address these issues. However, with Akpabio’s appeal now before the Court of Appeal, the lower court may have to put its proceedings on hold.
What’s Next?
The Court of Appeal has set a hearing date for Akpabio’s appeal. If it proceeds, the Federal High Court might have to wait before making any further decisions. This could mean an indefinite delay for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case.
As the legal battle continues, the senator remains suspended, and her fight to regain her seat faces more obstacles. Whether the Court of Appeal will grant Akpabio’s request or allow the case to proceed at the Federal High Court remains to be seen. One thing is clear—the road to justice in this matter is far from over.
