Lawyer cries out, alleges bias against a Judge

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

An Abuja based lawyer, Victor Giwa, has cried out over what he described as “judicial absurdity” exhibited by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Apo.

Giwa is presently 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 sordid 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 has gotten this bad.

“I saw one 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 office of the Chief Judge of FCT.

Giwa disclosed that the case was for cross examination of PW1 (Asabe Waziri), and that he was ready to proceed just as the prosecuting counsel informed the court of his readiness.

However, Giwa stated, he noticed that Asabe Waziri refused to approach the witness box as she sat glued to her seat.

At this juncture, Giwa said the judge interjected and informed the court that he saw a motion on notice seeking his recusal from further hearing of the charge.

According to Giwa, the Judge responded and informed him that he saw a Motion on Notice to recuse himself from the case, stressing, “My Lord 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 the motion 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 the 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 about the application.

“I almost fainted in the Court. I gasped for breath. I shouted that I was fainting. It was like a movie. The Hon. Judge was neck-dip into 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 Honouable 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 give a ruling that he had no interest in the case and that he must proceed with the case at all cost.

Giwa concluded by saying that though he neither has Godfathers nor senior lawyers and some Judges as well as Dollars to play around like Asabe Waziri, “But I have conscience, that most of them have lost. Nigeria must protect it’s conscience. We must save our Judiciary”.