Justice Samira Bature of an Abuja High Court ordered the arrest of lawyer Victor Giwa and police officer Edith Erhunmuuse on Friday for repeatedly evading arraignment in a case involving forceful eviction of occupants and property damage valued at N300 million. The judge granted a bench warrant following an application by prosecution counsel Aderonke Imana, who argued that both defendants had systematically avoided court appearances since the case was filed in January 2023. Justice Bature noted that Giwa had submitted medical records and letters as excuses, but dismissed them as deliberate delay tactics, stating that as a legal practitioner, he should have acted with more responsibility. The judge emphasized that court jurisdiction in criminal matters only activates after arraignment, and pending applications, including one dated February 2, cannot halt the process.
The third defendant, Edith Erhunmuuse, appeared only once and has since remained absent, despite the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria being assigned to represent her and her subsequent refusal of their services. Justice Bature criticized the defendants for showing consistent disrespect to the court, adjourning the matter to April 29 for arraignment. The prosecution cited Sections 113 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, in urging the court to act, noting that Giwa had falsely accused the prosecution of delaying the case. The judge ruled that all procedural applications must await arraignment, ordering the court registrar to facilitate the arrest and return of both Giwa and Erhunmuuse.
Victor Giwa, a lawyer, claims illness to avoid court while accusing prosecutors of delay, yet failed to formally notify them of his absence despite knowing legal procedures. His conduct undermines public trust in legal professionals who are expected to uphold court processes, not manipulate them. Edith Erhunmuuse, a police officer, ignoring repeated court orders, sets a dangerous precedent for law enforcement officers' accountability. When those trained in law and order treat court summons as optional, it erodes the system from within.
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