Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Azizah Nawawi recused herself from hearing Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali's judicial challenge over the 1MDB audit report being classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

The matter came up for case management before Justice Azizah today after she was appointed to hear the case last week, replacing Justice Hanipah Farikullah who has been transferred to Shah Alam.

The PKR deputy president had filed a judicial review application where he named Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, auditor-general Ambrin Buang and the government as respondents.

Azmin's lawyer Ganesan Nithi told reporters that Justice Azizah decided to recuse herself as her husband Nik Shuhaimi Nik Sulaiman holds the position of Selangor state legal advisor.

"Hence the court has fixed May 23 for case management before a registrar to decide on another judge to hear the case," he said.

Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan for Najib and the others confirmed it with reporters on the judge's recusal.

Azmin is seeking a declaration that classifying the report under OSA was unlawful and ultra vires (beyond the powers) the Federal Constitution.

Besides him, former Umno member Zahid Md Arip had also filed a separate challenge.

Both Azmin and Zahid were granted leave (permission) by Justice Hanipah Farikullah on Jan 11, for the application to be heard on its merits.

They are also seeking a mandamus to compel the three, their agents and officers to declassify the 1MDB report pursuant to Section 2C of the OSA, and to release the report to the public.

Zahid, who is now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member, was the first to file the application when he was still in Umno.