Human rights activist, Victor Giwa,Esq has challenged his continued trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a motion dated October 27, 2025, with motion number M/13799/205, Giwa alleged that his trial was pre-arranged by Asabe Waziri (the nominal complainant), Joe Agi, SAN, AIG Oyakhire Ekeinde (rtd.), former Director of Legal Services, Nigerian Police Force, and Mohammed Babandoko Abubakar.
According to him, the presiding judge is manifestly biased against him and his co-defendant and, therefore, cannot do justice in the matter.
Giwa and Bukola Ibitade are standing trial before the court over allegations of forgery.
They were accused of forging the letterhead of Awa Kalu, SAN, an allegation the Senior Advocate has publicly denied.
In the charge, the police alleged that Giwa forged the letterhead of Awa Kalu, SAN.
The defendants were arraigned and later granted bail by the court.
However, Prof. Awa Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, refuted the police’s allegations against Giwa and Ibitade.
Despite Kalu’s letter formally distancing himself from the allegations of forgery and impersonation, the police went ahead to press charges against Giwa.
In the letter dated May 30, 2025, Prof. Kalu clarified that his letterhead was never forged and that he never, at any time, lodged a complaint with the police about the forgery of his documents.
In his motion on notice, Giwa prayed the court for:
The applicant raised eight grounds upon which the motion was based.
He argued that he is entitled to a fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He contended that the continued hearing of the charge by the current court would amount to a breach of his constitutional right to fair hearing.
According to him:
“This Honourable Court, per Hon. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, is manifestly biased against the defendants, especially the 1st defendant.
This Honourable Court has foreknowledge of the charge based on requests and arrangements between the nominal complainant, Asabe Waziri; Joe Agi, SAN; AIG Oyakhire Ekeinde (rtd.); Mohammed Babandoko Abubakar; and the office of the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court.
The defendants have no confidence in getting justice from the court of Hon. Justice Onwuegbuzie Jude.
The charge and trial are prearranged by Asabe Waziri, Joe Agi, SAN, AIG Oyakhire Ekeinde (rtd.), Mohammed Babandoko Abubakar, and the office of the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court to deal with the defendants, as Asabe Waziri has boasted.”
Giwa maintained that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
