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From Godwin Tsa Abuja
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Victor Giwa, has accused Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of bias in the trial of a forgery and impersonation case before him.
Giwa, one of the defendants in charge No: CR/150/25, filed by the Inspector General of Police pending before Justice Onwuegbuzie, described the action of the judge as ‘judicial absurdity.’
Addressing judiciary correspondents yesterday, Giwa narrated his experience in the hands of the trial judge when the matter came up on November 12, in the Apo division of the court.
“Yesterday was a very sad and unfortunate day for me. I cried because I didn’t know that the Nigerian justice system has become this bad.
“I saw one yet again with 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, he said he was in court for the trial, which according to him, has been nothing but an arrangement allegedly sponsored by Asabe Waziri and facilitated by a senior lawyer and some persons in the office of the Chief Judge of FCT.
He 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.
He, however, said he noticed that Waziri refused to approach the witness box as she sat glued to her seat.
At this juncture, he 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 have 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 judge was more interested in the motion for recusal. It was thereafter that I got the shock of my life.
“Justice 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 judge was neck-dipping in the arena.
“The judge must deliver as instructed. The court must deal with me. Nothing should stop him, as I was informed that the 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.
He concluded by saying that he neither has godfathers nor senior lawyers and some judges as well as dollars to play around like Waziri. “But I have conscience that most of them have lost. Nigeria must protect its conscience. We must save our judiciary.”
