CSO Calls for Review of Civil Dispute Converted to Criminal Case by AGF
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has changed a civil lawsuit against human rights attorney Barrister Victor Giwa and two others into a criminal action, which has alarmed the Africa Center for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, a civic organization.
The civic organization expressed concern and requested that the matter be reviewed by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, and Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The previous AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN, changed the case from a civil matter to a criminal one, according to a statement made by the Convener, Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, CSO. The civic group expressed concern that the accusation might be a witch hunt and called for a comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth.
“We should enquire as to when this became a criminal matter because it was intended to be a civil affair. We are aware that the Honourable AGF Fagbemi and the DPP, Oyedepo, have not yet decided to take a serious look at the situation.
“We are using this platform to request that they look into this issue again and conduct a new investigation.
“Giwa and his client, Cecil Osakwe, were subjected to intimidation and harassment by the previous ministry administration under Malami’s leadership regarding a property owned by Osakwe at No. 1, Me Long Close, Maitama, Abuja.
The civil society group stated, “We beg the AGF to look into the matter once more and order a fresh investigation, so as not to punish an innocent person.”
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court presided over by Justice Samira Bature issued an arrest warrant for Giwa and Edith Erhunmuuse, a police officer, according to a newspaper. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had filed a nine-count charge against them, designated FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, and they were scheduled to be arraigned with Cecil Osakwe.
Due to suspected forcible evictions of tenants and an estimated N300 million in property damage, the defendants were charged with criminal activity.
Nonetheless, the civic society organization noted that a court had authorised the eviction for which the defendants were accused.
The civic group criticised the criminal prosecution, saying, “The eviction could not have been carried out without the order of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.”
