Judge Adjourns Abuja Lawyers’ Trial Over NJC Petition

Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Monday adjourned proceedings in the ongoing trial of two Abuja-based lawyers over alleged misrepresentation, following the disclosure that a petition has been filed against him at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The defendants, Barrister Maxwell Okpara and Barrister Gold Ogechi Nwankwo, are standing trial on a nine-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, tmisrepresentation and giving false information to the court in a N52m garnishee matter.

When the matter came up on Monday, Justice Mu’azu informed the court that a petition had been written against him at the NJC by the first and second defendants. He said that although he was previously unaware of the petition, he has now responded to it and learnt that the NJC had sat on the matter last week.

In view of the petition, the judge said it would be appropriate to await the NJC’s decision before proceeding further with the case.

He subsequently adjourned the matter to February 10, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, the first defendant, Barrister Maxwell Okpara, accused Justice Mu’azu of bias, personal interest and hostility towards him.

According to Okpara, he and the second defendant had earlier written to the judge requesting that the case file be forwarded to the Chief Judge of the FCT to enable the judge recuse himself.

“The judge told me to forward the petition to the Chief Judge so that he would direct him to return the file, which I did,” Okpara said.

He alleged that despite informing him that no directive had been received from the Chief Judge, Justice Mu’azu proceeded with the case and compelled him to open his defence.

“When I refused, he foreclosed my defence and continued with the trial,” he said.

Okpara further claimed that the second defendant deposed to an affidavit stating that she overheard the judge telling the third defendant to “do and exonerate himself, so that he will deal with Maxwell.”

He alleged that both his motion and the supporting affidavit were dismissed, while the court awarded a cost of N200,000 against the lawyer to the second defendant, even though no party applied for costs.

“He did that simply because a lawyer moved a motion on behalf of his client,” Okpara alleged.

“Now that he says he is waiting for the NJC, I ask you journalists: do you think he will spare me, knowing that I petitioned him to the NJC? The answer is no.”

Okpara insisted that Justice Mu’azu ought to have recused himself from the matter if he had no personal interest in it.

“I know I will not get justice here because of my allegation of his interest in this case. His refusal to step aside shows interest and hatred against me. A balanced judge should take over this matter,” he said.

The adjournment follows a dramatic incident during proceedings on November 14, 2025, when Okpara openly accused the court of bias and declared that he would never get justice in the case.

At that sitting, the second defendant, Barrister Gold Ogechi Nwankwo, had opened her defence before Justice Mu’azu during her cross-examination. She denied conspiring to mislead any public officer or giving false information.

Nwankwo told the court that she appeared at the Court of Appeal on September 9, 2020, after being contacted by Barrister Bunmi Olaleye, an external solicitor to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to stand in for her in a garnishee proceeding involving a judgment creditor, Godwin Emmanuel.

She said she later declined instructions to state that she was sent by Okpara, insisting that “things are not done that way.”

When it was time for Okpara to cross-examine her, he refused, alleging that the court had already foreclosed his rights.

“This court is not fair to me. I cannot get a fair trial here,” he told the judge, confirming that he had already petitioned the NJC.

Justice Mu’azu ruled that his refusal amounted to a waiver of his right to cross-examine and foreclosed the right accordingly.

Okpara had on November 6, 2025, petitioned the NJC, accusing Justice Mu’azu of gross misconduct, judicial bias and violation of his constitutional right to fair hearing in Charge No. CR/444/2021.

In the petition, Okpara alleged that the judge demonstrated hostility, prejudice and personal animosity, describing the proceedings as “a pattern of persecution rather than prosecution.”

He further accused the court of denying him legal representation, admitting a confessional statement allegedly obtained under duress, foreclosing his defence despite a pending recusal request, and imposing arbitrary costs.

“The conduct of Justice Mu’azu has brought the image of the judiciary into disrepute,” Okpara stated, urging the NJC to investigate the matter and take disciplinary action against the judge.