The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has revealed why Justice Obiora Egwuatu recused himself from the case she filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
Speaking at her homecoming in Okehi, Kogi State on Tuesday, April, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the judge who was handling her case against the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was threatened.
Recall that Justice Egwuatu had granted an ex-parte order, restraining the committee from conducting disciplinary proceedings against the female lawmaker.
She said, “Justice Egwuatu was supposed to sit, take all the pleadings and decide which I believe would have been in our favour. And that means we would have the suspension squashed and I would have resumed duties and the Senate. But what happened? As soon as the judge resumed, he recused himself from the case. What that means is that he withdrew himself from the case.
“And why was that? The moment the case was assigned to him, the Senate President wrote a petition against the judge. He wrote a petition to the NJC and the DSS.
“And we all know why, maybe the judge used to play games and that’s why they wanted to take him out. But what I got to know, allegedly, is that the night before… which is Monday, the 24, that some threats were made and that was why the judge recused himself, allegedly.
“So what does that tell you? Even though we say judiciary is corrupt, there are some good heads in the judiciary but again, this good people, they get harassed and intimidated,” the Kogi lawmaker said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further prayed for God’s blessings for Justice Egwuatu even though she wished he had been brave enough to continue with the case.