Group Asks AGF, DPP To Review Case Against Lawyer, Others

A civil society organization, Africa Center for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, has asked the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the director of public prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Rotimi  Oyedepo, to review the criminal case against a lawyer, Barrister Victor Giwa and two others.

According to the group, the case began as a civil matter and was turned into a criminal matter by the former AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Convener of the group, Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, called for a thorough review of the matter to unravel the truth.

The group described the charge filed against Victor Giwa and others as a witch-hunt.

The group said, “This is supposed to be a civil matter; the question we should ask is, at what point did it turn into a criminal matter.  We know the Honorable AGF Fagbemi and the newly hardworking DPP, Oyedepo, are yet to turn their minds to looking at the matter critically.

“We are using this medium to call on them to revisit this matter and call for a fresh investigation.

“The last administration in the ministry led by Malami used his office to intimidate and harass Giwa and his client, Cecil Osakwe, over a property owned y Osakwe, located at No. 1, Me Long Close, Maitama, Abuja.

“We plead with the AGF to once again look into the matter and order a fresh investigation, so as not to punish an innocent person”.

Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, issued an arrest warrant against Giwa and a police officer, Edith Erhunmuuse.

They were to be arraigned with another defendant, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

They are accused of engaging in criminal conduct, involving the forceful eviction of occupants and property damage estimated at N300 million.

The convener said the eviction being complained of for which they were charged was ordered by a court.

“Without the order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the eviction could not have been carried out”, he said.