Justice Obiora Egwuatu has withdrawn from presiding over the case challenging the alleged unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.
His decision follows a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which reversed its earlier judgment from March 4 that had declared the senator’s suspension null and void.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu granted five reliefs in favor of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including an order stating that any actions taken by the defendants during the lawsuit would be considered invalid. This ruling was based on an ex-parte motion filed by her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sanusi Musa, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
The senator, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate, listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants, along with Senate President and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as the 3rd and 4th defendants.
However, on March 17, the Senate, through its counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, filed a motion seeking to overturn Order Number Four, issued by Justice Egwuatu on March 4. The order had restrained the Senate from executing its legislative functions.
Ojukwu contended that enforcing the order could trigger a constitutional crisis, obstructing the Senate’s duties and violating the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
After reviewing the arguments, Justice Egwuatu ruled in favor of the defence and set aside Order Number Four. He then adjourned the case to March 25 for the hearing of all pending applications.
