By Peter Dansu
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Victor Giwa, has cried out over what he described as “judicial absurdity” exhibited by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Apo.
Giwa is currently a party in a charge marked CR/150/25, between the Inspector General of Police v. Victor Giwa and others, pending before Justice Onwuegbuzie.
Addressing judiciary correspondents on Thursday, Giwa narrated his unpleasant experience in the hands of the trial judge when the matter came up on November 12, 2025.
“Yesterday was a very sad and unfortunate day for me. I cried because I didn’t know that the Nigerian justice system had gotten this bad.
“I witnessed it yet again with Hon. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court 30, Apo, before whom I am standing trial,” Giwa stated.
As one of the defendants in the case, Giwa said he was in court for the trial, which according to him, “has been nothing but an arrangement sponsored by Asabe Waziri and facilitated by a senior lawyer and some persons in the office of the Chief Judge of the FCT.”
Giwa disclosed that the case was for the cross-examination of PW1 (Asabe Waziri) and that he was ready to proceed, just as the prosecuting counsel also informed the court of his readiness.
However, Giwa stated that he noticed Asabe Waziri refused to approach the witness box, as she sat glued to her seat.
At this point, Giwa said the judge interjected and informed the court that he had seen a motion on notice seeking his recusal from further hearing of the charge.
According to Giwa, the judge insisted on taking the motion first.
“I informed the court that I had not said anything about the motion and, as a matter of fact, I was not interested in it yet. His Lordship, however, insisted that he would take the motion on notice to recuse himself.
“To put the records straight, I had four pending motions in the file docket, including one challenging the court’s jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, yet the Honourable Judge was more interested in the motion for recusal. It was thereafter that I got the shock of my life.
“Hon. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie started delivering his prepared ruling even when I had not spoken on the application.
“I almost fainted in court. I gasped for breath. I shouted that I was fainting. It was like a movie. The Hon. Judge was neck-deep in the arena.
“The Hon. Judge must deliver as instructed. The court must deal with me. Nothing should stop him, as I was informed that the Honourable Chief Judge personally has interest in the matter and that I should be sent to jail,” Giwa stated.
Without hearing the defence and prosecution lawyers make submissions, Giwa said the trial judge went ahead to rule that he had no interest in the case and that he must proceed with the matter at all costs.
Giwa concluded by saying that though he neither has godfathers nor senior lawyers, and cannot afford to “play around with dollars” like Asabe Waziri, “I have conscience, which most of them have lost. Nigeria must protect its conscience. We must save our judiciary.”
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