An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Barrister Victor Giwa, has clarified why he attempted to seek an audience with the judge handling his case.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
According to Giwa, he sought an audience with Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court purely out of courtesy and in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Giwa is both counsel and a defendant in the matter.
He wondered about what he described as the particular interest Justice Onwuegbuzie has in his case, noting that despite ongoing renovation work in the court building, the judge still sat to hear the matter.
The police had accused Giwa of forging the letterhead of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu.
However, Awa Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, denied the allegation and refuted the police claim against Giwa and Ibitade.
Despite the letter formally distancing Chief Kalu from the allegation of forgery and impersonation, the police proceeded to file charges against Giwa.
Chief Kalu stated that his letterhead was never forged and that he had never lodged any complaint with the police regarding forgery of his documents.
In a letter dated May 30, 2025, addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Professor Kalu clarified that he neither filed a complaint nor reported Giwa for allegedly forging his firm’s letterhead.
Before proceedings began on Monday, Giwa approached the court registrar and informed him of his intention to see the judge in chambers in the company of the prosecutor, Mr Theophilous Silas, and counsel to the second defendant, Mr Of Business Aboje.
According to Giwa, the registrar conveyed the request to the judge, but the request was declined.
Giwa said that after informing the prosecutor, he was asked the purpose of the meeting, but he explained that the issue would be presented in chambers.
He said the prosecutor initially did not object but later withdrew, stating he did not want to attend without prior knowledge of the purpose of the meeting.
Addressing the court, Giwa said he obtained the consent of the prosecutor and the second defendant before informing the registrar, adding that the registrar did not ask the purpose of the proposed meeting.
The prosecutor, in response, confirmed that he was approached but later declined participation because he was not briefed on the purpose of the meeting.
In his remarks, Justice Onwuegbuzie warned that he would not tolerate such conduct, stating that he raised the issue to draw the attention of all parties to proper courtroom procedure.
Speaking later in an interview, Giwa questioned the judge’s continued interest in his case despite the ongoing renovation work at the court premises.
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