Justice Obiora Egwuatu has recused himself from the case challenging the alleged unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.
This decision comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja last week overturned its earlier ruling from March 4, which had declared the senator’s suspension unlawful and void.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu had granted five reliefs in favor of Senator Natasha, including an order stating that any actions taken by the defendants during the suit would be null and void. The ruling was based on an ex-parte motion filed by her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sanusi Musa. The motion was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, had taken legal action against the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate, listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants in the case. She also named Senate President and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as the 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.
On March 17, the Senate, represented by its lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, filed a motion requesting the court to overturn Order Number Four, which Justice Egwuatu had issued on March 4, 2025. The order had barred the Senate from carrying out its legislative functions.
Ojukwu argued that enforcing the order would lead to a constitutional crisis, preventing the Senate from performing its duties and violating the separation of powers as stated in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
After reviewing the arguments, Justice Egwuatu ruled in favour of the defence and set aside Order Number Four.
The judge then adjourned the case until March 25 for the hearing of all pending applications.
