Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative

Our story starts back in 2021, when Ms. Asabe Waziri, a respected professional in the oil and gas industry, set out to begin a new chapter in her life by purchasing a property in Abuja from developer CECIL OSAKWE.  What began with optimism quickly turned into a harrowing ordeal.

When Ms. Waziri requested her property documents and receipts, Osakwe responded with evasion, hostility and eventually, intimidation. His tactics escalated into false accusations of money laundering and a campaign of harassment designed to break her resolve. 

In September 2021, Osakwe leveraged his connections to maliciously report her to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on fabricated allegations. After an exhaustive investigation, the EFCC cleared Ms. Waziri of all wrongdoing, exposing Osakwe’s actions as entirely malicious, spiteful and vindictive.

Undeterred by truth, Osakwe filed a civil suit seeking to void the property contract. Although the initial judgment favoured him, with Hon. Justice Othman A. Musa, of the FCT High Court, Abuja, ordering that the developer refund Ms. Waziri’s payment and that she vacate her home. She immediately appealed to the Court of Appeal, standing firm against deceit, intimidation and abuse of court process. 

Also, Ms. Waziri petitioned the Police. Her complaint led to criminal charges of fraud and criminal intimidation against Osakwe.

Illegal Trespass and Unlawful Eviction

Osakwe’s aggression intensified with the help of a  new ally, one Barr. Victor Giwa.  Together, they waged a calculated campaign of defamation and cyberharassment, spreading false stories on social media and in the press. They fabricated claims of large cash and dollar payments, all in an attempt to destroy Ms. Waziri’s reputation and obstruct justice. 

In a brazen act of lawlessness, they deployed thugs to her residence to intimidate, harass and frighten her.  On March 18, 2022, they forcefully and illegal seized her property, forcing her to seek temporary refuge elsewhere.

Subsequent legal findings confirmed the illegality of Osakwe’s actions, leading to a nine-count criminal charge, filed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against Osakwe, his lawyer Victor Giwa, and a Police Officer. .

Further investigations uncovered a disturbing pattern of deceit, a scheme through which Osakwe and his associates exploited unsuspecting buyers to repossess properties they had already sold. 

Through it all, Ms. Waziri stood firm. Despite threats, lies and coercion, she refused to be silenced or manipulated. Her courage and persistence exposed a system that too often allows injustice to thrive when victims lack the resources to fight back. 

The Birth of AWJAI: From Injustice to  Empowerment 

From this painful experience, the Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative (AWJAI) was born.

AWJAI emerged not only from Ms. Waziri’s personal battle for justice but from her deep conviction that no one should lose their rights or dignity simply because they cannot afford legal help. Her ordeal revealed how access to justice can mean the difference between freedom and oppression, between dignity and despair.

Today, AWJAI stands as a beacon of hope, providing legal aid, advocacy, and empowerment to marginalised and vulnerable  individuals facing intimidation, exploitation, and systemic injustice.

Ms. Waziri’s journey is one of resilience, courage, and transformation.  It is the story of how one woman’s fight for justice became a movement to defend the rights of many.

Read more about A Tale of Resilience