By: Sunday Ameh
An Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, has raised serious concerns over what he described as “judicial absurdity” allegedly displayed by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo.
Giwa, who is currently standing trial in a case marked CR/150/25 between The Inspector General of Police v. Victor Giwa & Others, narrated his ordeal to journalists on Thursday, expressing shock and disappointment at the conduct of the court proceedings.
According to him, the matter was slated for the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Asabe Waziri, but proceedings took an unexpected turn when the witness allegedly refused to enter the witness box. Giwa said the prosecuting counsel indicated readiness for the cross-examination, but Waziri remained seated.
Giwa alleged that the trial judge suddenly took over the proceedings and announced that he had seen a Motion on Notice seeking his recusal from the case. The lawyer said he was surprised because he had not raised or argued the motion, and had no intention of doing so at that moment.
He explained that there were four other pending applications before the court—including one challenging the court’s jurisdiction—yet the judge insisted on addressing the recusal motion first.
Giwa further claimed that, to his shock, the judge began delivering a prepared ruling on the recusal application even though neither he nor the prosecution had made any submissions on it. He said the situation left him emotionally distressed.
“I almost fainted in court,” he said. “I gasped for breath and shouted that I was fainting. It was like a movie. The Honourable Judge was neck-deep in the arena. I cried because I didn’t know that the Nigerian justice system had gotten this bad.”
Giwa alleged that the entire trial was being influenced by external forces, claiming that the case was “an arrangement sponsored by one Asabe Waziri,” and that persons within the office of the Chief Judge were facilitating undue interference.
He further alleged that he was informed the Chief Judge had a personal interest in the matter, and that there were attempts to send him to jail at all costs.
Despite objections not being heard, Giwa said the judge delivered a ruling affirming that he had no personal interest in the matter and would continue presiding over the case.
Concluding his statement, Giwa lamented that he had no “godfathers or senior judges” to defend him, but insisted that he would continue to speak the truth.
“Nigeria must protect its conscience. We must save our judiciary,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police, in their counter-motion, dismissed Giwa’s claims and insisted that the allegations lacked merit.
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