Lawyers at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, were stunned as the judge began delivering his ruling without the submission of the applicant and defendant in the motion for recusal before him.
It took the intervention of the court’s Legal Assistant, who drew the judge’s attention to the fact that the parties in the matter had yet to make their submissions in the motion he was ruling on, before he halted his ruling.
The lawyers said they were surprised that the judge began his ruling on the motion before the parties had a chance to present their arguments.
According to them, it is expected that parties are supposed to argue a motion before the court before a ruling is delivered one way or the other.
Human Rights activist, Victor Giwa had filed a motion before the court seeking the recusal of the judge from his case.
The police had accused Giwa of forging the letterhead of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu.
But Awa Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode. Egebtolun, put a lie to the allegation of the police against Ibitade amd Giwa.
Despite Professor Awa Kalu’s letter to the Inspector-General of Police, formally distancing himself from the allegations of forgery and impersonation against Giwa and Ibitade, the police proceeded to press charges against Giwa.
Chief Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, had said his letterhead was never forged and that he had not at any time lodged any complaint to the police about forgery of his document.
Professor Kalu, in a letter dated May 30, 2025, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, clarified that he neither filed a complaint nor reported Mr. Giwa for allegedly forging his firm’s letterhead.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, Barrister Giwa asked the judge to recuse himself from the matter on the grounds of bias and partisanship.
He told the cour,t while arguing his motion after the court halteditss ruling to allow partiesto address hi,m that he has no chance of getting justice before the court.
The police, in their counter-motion, requested that the court dismiss the motion.
In a brief, already prepared ruling before Counsel made submissions in the matter, the court struck out the motion, saying that the court is not biased in the matter.
According to him, “This court is not biased; the issue raised by the applicant in his action has no basis. This motion is here by struck out”
He said in the affidavit, “That I made efforts and sent emissaries to the office of the Chief Judge with the knowledge that the office of the Chief Judge is against me.
“That I have no chances of getting justice before this Honourable Court in this case as the outcome is pre-determined and Asabe Waziri has boasted repeatedly that this Honourable Court is arranged to obtain a conviction and use same as a basis for the withdrawal of my practice license.
“That I humbly and respectfully demand that this case be further investigated by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
“That I am ready and available to undertake a polygraph test to verify the veracity of my claims and the facts deposed in this affidavit.
“That Asabe Waziri enjoys full support from the Office of the Chief Judge of
The FCT High Court and its staff, that I depose to this affidavit in good faith, believing the contents to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oath Act 2004.”
