Judge withdraws from Natasha’s suit against Akpabio

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, has withdrawn from the suit filed by the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others.

The suit is seeking to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceedings over alleged misconduct by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Egwuatu announced his withdrawal from the case on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, over allegations of bias levelled against the court by Akpabio, who is the third defendant in the matter.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, the judge, after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit, announced his decision to withdraw from the case.

He cited the allegation as the major reason for his decision.

It was gathered that Akpabio had expressed lack of confidence in the ability of the court to do justice on the matter, hence the reason for the development.

The judge subsequently ordered that the case file be remitted back to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment

Justice Egwuatu had, on March 19, set aside the order of March 4, declaring the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate as null and void.

Justice Egwuatu, in a ruling, vacated the suit after listening to the arguments of counsel for the plaintiff and lawyers to the defendants in the suit.

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Though the court had earlier fixed today for the hearing of the matter, March 19 was however rescheduled to take the motion on notice filed by the Senate (second defendant) to seek the order vacating the March 4 order which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void, and of no effect.

The judge had granted Natasha’s five reliefs on March 4, including Order Number Four which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void, and of no effect.

The judge granted the five prayers after Sanusi Musa (SAN), who appeared for Natasha, moved the ex-parte motion  marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

Natasha had, in the motion ex-parte, sued clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate as first and second defendants, respectively.

She also named the Senate President and Senator Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as third and fourth defendants, respectively.

The senator had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate’s committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary on February 20, pursuant to the referral by the Senate on February 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, among others.

However, the Senate, in a motion on notice filed on March 17 by its lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), sought an order setting aside Order Number Four in the enrolled ex-parte order made by Justice Egwuatu against the defendants in Natasha’s suit.

The Senate, through Ojukwu, urged the judge to vacate the order in the interest of fair hearing.

The Star