Nigeria, March 25 -- A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday recused himself from hearing a suit filed by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge his suspension by the Senate.

Obiora Egwuatu's decision followed a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who questioned his impartiality in the case.

The case was originally scheduled for a hearing, but when the court clerk called it, Mr Egwuatu announced his withdrawal.

He said that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

The development puts another spanner in the works of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan's suit, which she hoped would be promptly resolved to possibly cut short the six months suspension imposed on h...