Asabe Waziri v. Abeh Signature Ltd: Court Case Involving Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa
How it Began
In 2021, Ms Asabe Waziri lawfully purchased a residential property in Abuja from a developer, Cecil Osakwe of Abeh Signature Ltd. What began as a routine transaction soon turned into a dispute.
However, instead of resolving the issue through lawful civil means, Cecil Osakwe escalated the situation. He responded with evasion, hostility and intimidation.
In September 2021, nearly a year after the transaction, Cecil Osakwe reported Ms Waziri to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging money laundering. However, after a full investigation, the Commission cleared her of all wrongdoing. This outcome exposed the allegations as baseless and malicious.
At the same time, while the investigation was ongoing, Cecil Osakwe filed a civil suit seeking to void the transaction and take back the property.
On February 18, 2022, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, presided over by Hon. Justice Othman Musa, delivered judgment in his favour. The court ordered that Ms Waziri’s payment be refunded and that she vacate the property.
Notably, this judgment was delivered barely five (5) months after the lawsuit was filed.
However, Ms Waziri immediately filed an appeal. In addition, she reported the continued intimidation and harassment at her residence to the police. This led to criminal charges for fraud and intimidation against Cecil Osakwe.
Escalation and Unlawful Eviction
The situation escalated further when Cecil Osakwe enlisted a lawyer, Victor Giwa. Although Giwa was not counsel on record, he took an active role in the matter.
Together, Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa launched a coordinated campaign of defamation and online harassment. They spread false narratives across media platforms to damage Ms Waziri’s reputation.
On March 18, 2022, they escalated their actions again. They resorted to self help. They led armed thugs to Ms Waziri’s home and forcibly removed her belongings.
Barely ten days later, Victor Giwa became a director and shareholder of Abeh Signature Property Management Ltd, a company owned by Cecil Osakwe. This appointment revealed a clear conflict of interest arising from his involvement in the matter.
Even before the eviction, intimidation had already begun. On February 20, 2022, Victor Giwa personally supervised the disconnection of Ms Waziri’s water and electricity. He carried this out with armed thugs and an electrician, one Mr Friday.
A Pattern of Abuse
As events unfolded, a clear pattern of intimidation and abuse emerged.
Cecil Osakwe funded and directed operations from behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Giwa used his legal position, connections within law enforcement and access to media platforms to shape public perception. He circulated misleading narratives about the situation.
Together, Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa misused legal processes and authority. They relied on intimidation and misinformation in an attempt to silence resistance.
However, they did not anticipate that Ms. Waziri would challenge them through lawful means and expose their actions.
Defiance of Court Orders
On April 4, 2022, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice H.S. Tsammani, with Justices U. A. Ogakwu and B.I Gafai, ordered that “status quo ante bellum” be maintained. This meant that Ms. Waziri should be restored to her home immediately.
However, Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa did not comply with this order. Instead, they ignored the directive and continued their actions. For over two (2) years, they openly defied the authority of the court.
As a result, the rule of law was undermined. Their conduct raised serious concerns about accountability and respect for judicial authority.
On May 10, 2022, the situation escalated again. Court bailiffs from the FCT High Court attempted to enforce the Court of Appeal’s order. During this lawful process, Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa deployed armed thugs.
They disrupted the enforcement. They also assaulted and chased away court officials. This incident demonstrated a clear disregard for the judiciary and its authority.
Justice Restored
On March 1, 2024, the law finally prevailed. The FCT High Court Enforcement Department enforced the Court of Appeal’s order and restored Ms. Waziri to her home.
However, the intimidation and harassment did not stop.
On March 19, 2024, essential services to her residence were disconnected again. This happened despite ongoing criminal proceedings against Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa.
A nine-count charge including illegal trespass, theft, mischief, tampering with electricity supply and other offenses had been filed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice in 2023 against Cecil Osakwe, Victor Giwa and a police officer.
On June 27, 2024, officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department intervened. They removed Victor Giwa and the armed thugs from the residence and restored order.
Final Judgment and Victory
On May 21, 2024, the Court of Appeal delivered a unanimous judgment in favour of Ms Waziri.
A three-judge panel led by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka (Presiding), with Justices Abba Bello Mohammed and Okon Efreti Abang, overturned the lower court decision in its entirety and awarded costs of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to Ms. Waziri.
The Court held that the judgment of the lower court was not supported by credible evidence and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
Justice Barka, in his judgment declared:
“It is clear that the respondent, having benefitted more from the transaction, seeks to vitiate the contract possibly to further benefit from it. I agree with the appellant’s counsel that the appeal is destined for success and should be allowed. Hence, having resolved all issues in favor of the appellant, this appeal succeeds and is hereby allowed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in suit No: CV/2435/2021, delivered on February 17, 2022, is hereby set aside, and all actions taken consequent to the said judgment also stand vacated. The appellant is entitled to costs assessed at N500,000 (five hundred thousand Naira only). Appeal allowed.”
This judgment marked a decisive turning point. It confirmed that the actions of Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa could not stand under the law.
Read the full judgement of the Court of Appeal in the case of Asabe Waziri V. Abeh Signature Ltd.
Why This Case Matters
This case reveals serious issues within the justice system.
First, it shows how unlawful eviction and abuse of process can occur. Second, it highlights the real challenges individuals face when trying to enforce their rights, especially in the face of intimidation, abuse of process and delay. Most importantly, it shows why accountability must be enforced.
However, it also sends a strong message. Persistence matters. Lawful resistance matters. Justice, even when delayed, can prevail.
From Personal struggle to Public Mission
Ms Waziri’s experience became the foundation of AWJAI.
Her journey revealed a harsh reality. When victims walk away, those who abuse power and perpetuate injustice become more confident and continue their actions unchecked.
Therefore, AWJAI was established to change that reality.
Today, the organisation protects individuals facing similar injustices, amplify voices of the vulnerable, ensures access to legal support and advocates for systemic reform.
Illegal eviction, abuse of power and intimidation remain painful realities for many in Nigeria. AWJAI works to ensure that individuals facing these challenges are not left without support.