I’m Being Intimidated In Your Court, Lawyer Tells Judge

Human ‘ights lawyer, Barr Victor Giwa, has told Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo, that he is being intimidated by his court.

Giwa urged the court to give him an audience.

The police had accused Giwa of forging the letterhead of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu.

However, 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 and Giwa.

Despite the letter of Kalu to the IGP distancing himself from the allegation of forgery and impersonation against Giwa and Ibitade, the police have gone ahead 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 Thursday, Giwa brought a medical report that he was indisposed and would not be able to proceed with the matter.

He also added that he had engaged a new lawyer who is supposed to argue his case for him before the court. However, the judge insisted that he must go on with the case. Giwa had filed an application urging the judge to recuse himself from the matter.

The court was ready to begin hearing the motion when Giwa told the court that he had a medical report from the hospital and would not be able to proceed on the grounds of ill-health.

The judge insisted that he must proceed and move his application.

He later told the court that he had just been served with the amended counter-motion by the Police and had not had the opportunity to go through it.

It was at that point that the court adjourned the case to December 10, 2025.

In the application, Barrister Giwa asked the judge to recuse himself from the matter on the grounds of bias and partisanship. He said that he has no chance of getting justice before the court.