Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the High Court in Abuja has stepped down from hearing a case brought by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which challenges her suspension by the Senate.
Egwatu made this decision after receiving a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who raised concerns about his ability to be impartial.
The hearing was initially planned for the day, but when the court clerk called the case, Egwuatu declared his withdrawal, adding that the case file would be sent back to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a different judge.
This turn of events complicates Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawsuit, which she hoped would be resolved quickly to potentially shorten the six-month suspension handed down by the Senate.
This is the latest setback for the suit, which has encountered multiple challenges over the past week, including the judge’s ruling on March 19 that overturned his previous order from March 4, which had temporarily halted the Senate’s disciplinary actions against her.
Moreover, the suit could face an indefinite delay even if it is quickly assigned to another judge, as the Court of Appeal is scheduled to consider Akpabio’s request to pause the High Court proceedings concerning the suspended senator’s case.
On March 4, Egwuatu issued a temporary order that prevented the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary measures against Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan for purportedly breaching Senate regulations.
However, on March 19, just a day before Akpabio’s application to the Court of Appeal, the High Court overturned one of its orders from March 4 that had barred the Senate from continuing with its disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court concurred with the Senate’s claim that the order was unclear and could disrupt legislative functions.
Initially, the court had set March 25 for the hearing of all outstanding applications, but in light of Mr Akpabio’s appeal now being presented to the appellate court, the High Court needed to delay its proceedings.
This delay is particularly pertinent as the Court of Appeal has also scheduled a hearing for Akpabio’s application on Tuesday.
