Judge recuses self from Natasha’s case over bias allegation

Judge recuses self from Natasha’s case over bias allegation

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the case brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

Egwuatu on Tuesday announced his decision, citing allegations of bias made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the reason.

The lawsuit was initiated by Akpoti-Uduaghan to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against her.

On March 4, the judge had issued an order restraining the senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan following an ex parte application filed by counsels to the senator.

The judge announced his decision to recuse himself from the case after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit.

Egwuatu ordered that the case file be transferred to John Tsoho, the chief judge of the federal high court, for reassignment.

The defendants in the application are the clerk of the national assembly, the senate, senate president, and the chairman of the senate committee on ethics.

The judge had ruled that the defendants should come and show cause within 72 hours, upon the service of the order, why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them.

Forty-eight hours after the judgment, the senate suspended the Kogi senator for six months.

The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee.

The red chamber had approved that her office should be locked, and she must hand over all senate properties in her possession to the clerk of the national assembly for the duration of the suspension.

On March 19, Egwuatu vacated his March 4 order restraining the senate from suspending the Kogi senator.

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