ABUJA, Nigeria — Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court don step down from the case wey suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan dey fight for. The judge make this decision on Tuesday after Senate President Godswill Akpabio send am petition wey dey question him impartiality for the matter.
The case suppose hold for hearing, but when the court clerk call am, Justice Egwuatu announce say him go withdraw. Him talk say e go return the case file to the Chief Judge to give another judge. This new development na one serious twist for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s matter, wey she hope go resolve quick to cut down the six months wey the Senate suspend am.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu give interim order wey stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan. Dem accuse am say she violate Senate rules, but according to the judge, dem no fit continue the disciplinary process until dem resolve the case.
Justice Egwuatu also give the defendants 72 hours to explain why the court no go stop dem from investigating the senator without following correct rules. Him permit the senator to serve legal documents to the defendants through substituted means, meaning say dem fit deliver the documents to the Clerk of the National Assembly or paste am for National Assembly premises. The documents also suppose dey published for two national newspapers.
The interim order come after Akpoti-Uduaghan file urgent application. However, in spite of the court’s order, the Senate Committee still meet and suspend her for six months. Then later, Justice Egwuatu change him earlier order and remove the part wey stop the Senate from taking any action while the case dey ongoing.
Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, question the court’s authority to interfere for Senate affairs, making the legal battle more complex. Justice Egwuatu had signed orders wey show the judge dey try to protect Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights, but now it all dey seem like dem go face more delays and complications.
As this drama dey unfold, the Court of Appeal dey set to hear Akpabio’s application for stay of proceedings regarding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case. Dis matter dey grow wey e get more angles, and supporters of both parties dey watch closely how e go play out.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, she start this case after she and Akpabio get wahala during a February 20 Senate session over her seating arrangement, wey lead to the Senate Committee on Ethics commencing disciplinary action against her.
Even though the court order stop dem from moving ahead with disciplinary actions, the Senate still go ahead to suspend her on March 6, citing misconduct, which make Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan file application for mandatory injunction and contempt proceedings against the Senate. The drama don continue to unfold as both sides dey rally legal heavyweights to solidify their stance.
With this latest turn of events, e dey clear say dis case no go finish anytime soon, as both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal don dey plan to meet to tackle the matter. As the legal battle dey carry on, all eyes dey on Abuja as dem wonda wetin go happen next.
