An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Victor Giwa, has raised alarm over what he described as “judicial absurdity” allegedly exhibited by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo.
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Giwa is currently a defendant in a case 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 what he called his “sordid experience” before the trial judge when the matter came up on November 12, 2025.
But the police, in their counter-motion before the court, dismissed Giwa’s claims.
“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 saw it 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 trial, which he described as “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 scheduled for the 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, he said he noticed that Asabe Waziri refused to approach the witness box and remained seated.
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 that the motion for recusal must be taken 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, including one challenging the court’s jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, yet the 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 judge was neck-deep 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 Honorable Chief Judge personally has an interest in the matter and that I should be sent to jail,” Giwa alleged.
Without hearing submissions from both defence and prosecution counsel, Giwa said the trial judge proceeded to rule that he had no interest in the case and would continue with the trial at all cost.
Giwa concluded by saying that though he has neither godfathers nor senior lawyers and judges, nor “dollars to play around with like Asabe Waziri,” he has a conscience “which many have lost.”
“Nigeria must protect its conscience. We must save our judiciary,” he said.
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