By Prosper Mene
The legal fight over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate took a dramatic turn today as Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja recused himself from her case. The judge’s withdrawal, prompted by a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio alleging bias, has thrown yet another wrench into the embattled senator’s bid to overturn what she calls an “illegal” punishment, escalating a saga that has gripped the nation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central and one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, was suspended without pay on March 6 following her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio. The suspension, upheld by a majority vote after the Senate ethics committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, stripped her of security details, barred her from the National Assembly, and halted her salaries—measures she and her supporters decry as vindictive. Today’s courtroom twist came as Egwuatu stepped aside, citing Akpabio’s challenge to his impartiality, and returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment. No new hearing date has been set, leaving the senator’s fate in limbo.
The escalation has fueled outrage among women’s rights advocates and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, who see the suspension as a blatant attempt to silence a rare female voice in Nigeria’s male-dominated legislature. “This is a travesty,” said Chioma Agwuegbo, executive director of TechHerNG, a women’s rights group. “The Senate’s actions, now compounded by this judicial delay, send a chilling message: speak out, and you’ll be crushed.” Protests erupted outside the National Assembly earlier this month, with supporters chanting “Akpabio must go,” while counter-demonstrations backing the Senate president underscored the polarized public response.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s troubles began in February when a seating dispute in the Senate chamber spiraled into a public clash with Akpabio. She accused him of tying her legislative motions to demands for sexual favors—an explosive claim he denies. The Senate insists her suspension stems not from the harassment allegations but from “gross misconduct,” including disruptive behavior and defiance of chamber rules. Yet, critics, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, call it “legislative recklessness,” arguing it flouts natural justice and disenfranchises Kogi Central voters.
The legal battle has been fraught from the start. Egwuatu had issued an interim order on March 4 halting the Senate’s disciplinary process, only for the ethics committee to proceed anyway—a move Akpoti-Uduaghan’s team branded as contemptuous. Akpabio, meanwhile, has fought back, filing an appeal on March 20 to stay the High Court proceedings, claiming the judge’s rulings undermined legal norms. Today’s recusal hands him a tactical win, though it delays resolution further.
Public sentiment, especially online, is a cauldron of anger and support. Akpoti-Uduaghan, undeterred, has taken her case global, addressing the United Nations earlier this month and vowing to continue serving her people “till 2027 and beyond.”
