Court Issues Final Warning To Lawyer, Developer Over Alleged Unlawful Eviction Case
Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, has given property developer Cecil Osakwe and lawyer Victor Giwa a final opportunity to appear for arraignment in a case involving allegations of unlawful eviction, criminal intimidation, and threats against Ms. Asabe Waziri.
The Federal Government has filed a nine-count charge against Osakwe and Giwa, including allegations of damage to property valued at ₦300 million. The charges stem from claims of forcibly evicting Waziri and threatening her life.
At the latest hearing, scheduled for arraignment, both defendants failed to appear and submitted letters seeking another adjournment. They were also unrepresented by counsel in court.
Prosecution counsel M.O. Una expressed frustration over repeated delays, describing the defendants’ actions as an attempt to evade justice. He noted that the case had already suffered multiple adjournments due to similar requests and emphasized that their absence showed disrespect to the court.
Una also refuted claims in the defendants’ letters suggesting ongoing discussions for an out-of-court settlement, stating, “There is no discussion or out-of-court settlement as alleged.”
The prosecutor urged the court to exercise its authority to compel the defendants to appear, highlighting that both defendants’ law firms had other lawyers who could have represented them.
In a brief ruling, Justice Bature granted the defendants one final chance to appear for their arraignment on a date they had proposed. She warned that failure to comply would leave the court with no choice but to enforce the prosecution’s request to compel their appearance.
The case was adjourned to February 17, 2025, for arraignment. The judge also directed the court registry to notify the defendants of the next hearing date.
