A civil society organisation, the Public Accountability League (PAL), has called for an independent investigative panel to probe the alleged connection between the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Baba Yusuf Hussein, a judge of the same court, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, and a senior management staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Ms. Asabe Waziri.
In a petition dated December 5, 2025, and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, PAL accused the two judicial officers, police operatives, and the NNPCL official of orchestrating a coordinated persecution campaign against Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Barr. Victor Giwa.
The petition, signed by Amb. Augustine Ekpo, PAL’s Director of Legal Affairs, demanded an urgent and transparent inquiry into what it described as a “disturbing pattern of judicial interference, abuse of prosecutorial powers, and weaponisation of the justice system.”
Ekpo said the organization has received multiple disturbing reports regarding the ongoing criminal trial of Barr. Giwa before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie in Charge No. CR/150/25, involving allegations of impersonation and forgery of the letterhead of Awa Kalu (SAN) & Associates.
Property Dispute at the Heart of the Crisis
According to the League, the criminal charge against Giwa was instigated by Asabe Waziri, who has been locked in a protracted property dispute with Giwa and one of his clients, Cecil Osakwe, over two 3-bedroom flats located at No. 1 Mekong Close, Maitama.
PAL alleged that following a judgment delivered by Justice Othman Usman in 2022, Waziri was evicted from the property—an eviction that marked the beginning of her hostility toward Giwa.
The group further alleged that in June 2024, Waziri “forcefully regained possession” of the property with the backing of armed police officers led by CP Aina Emmanuel, then head of Special Investigation Bureau (SIB), despite a pending Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution filed before the Supreme Court.
PAL said the documents—filed on May 22, 2024—were ignored while Ms. Waziri allegedly boasted of her influence over the FCT Chief Judge and other senior legal authorities.
Questions Over Forgery Charge
PAL noted that the forgery allegation at the center of Giwa’s trial raises red flags, especially after Awa Kalu, SAN, wrote to the Inspector-General of Police on May 30, 2025, stating that he never filed a complaint against Giwa and was unaware of any petition alleging the forgery of his firm’s letterhead.
The League questioned why the complainant in a forgery of a SAN’s letterhead would be Ms. Waziri, rather than the alleged owner of the letterhead, calling it “a clear sign of personal vendetta dressed up as criminal prosecution.”
PAL said Giwa wrote to the FCT Chief Judge on January 28, 2025 to report threats from Waziri but never received any response.
Concerns Over Judicial Conduct
The group expressed strong concerns about the conduct of Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, alleging:
• The case was assigned to him under suspiciously speedy circumstances
• Staff from the Chief Judge’s office were allegedly monitoring proceedings
• A bench warrant was issued against Giwa on September 15, 2025, even though he was never personally served with the charge sheet
• Applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction were ignored
• His bail application was delayed for weeks and eventually granted under “stringent and punitive” conditions, leading to his remand at Kuje Prison
PAL said these incidents suggest possible undue influence from the office of the FCT Chief Judge.
PAL’s Demands
The organisation called for the following actions:
1. Immediate suspension of the ongoing trial of Barr. Giwa.
2. Appointment of an Independent Panel of Senior Judicial Officers to investigate:
• Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie
• Any potential interference by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Baba Yusuf
• The role of the Enforcement Unit of the FCT High Court
3. A full-scale probe into Ms. Asabe Waziri, including:
• Her financial activities related to the case
• Her history of property disputes
• Any misuse of judicial or police institutions for personal disputes
4. Protection of Barr. Victor Giwa’s constitutional rights, ensuring fair hearing, due process, and freedom from intimidation or arbitrary bail revocation.
PAL warned that the allegations, if left untreated, could erode public confidence in the judiciary and expose deeper structural problems within the FCT judicial system.