Plaintiff Accuses Police, Asabe Waziri of Delaying Judicial Review in Alleged Murder Case

A civil society organization called the Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network, or GICN, filed a murder lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police and Asabe Waziri. The case has been postponed multiple times.

The Nigeria Police and Asabe Waziri, the defendants in the case, have been accused by the plaintiff of postponing the case.

The plaintiff claims that in the roughly two years since the case was started, the Nigerian Pice has only made a conditional appearance.

Judge Gladys Olotu was given the case, which was filed on May 18, 2024, however there have been around five adjournments.

The Inspector General of Police was sued by GICN in the Federal High Court in Abuja for failing to make public the investigation report of a “unresolved murder” case involving Asabe Waziri, a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NPCL) employee.

According to the demand letter dated May 2, 2024, the final investigation report of the case involving Asabe Waziri, who allegedly struck a pregnant woman, Mrs. Shitua Aso, with her car in front of the FCT Police Command, Garki 2, Abuja, on or around May 30, 2010, the plaintiff (GICN) wants the court to grant it leave to apply for judicial review by way of order of mandamus compelling the Respondent to the Applicant.

In the lawsuit filed on May 29, 2024, the plaintiff is requesting a declaration that the Respondent’s failure, refusal, and/or neglect to provide the information and documents requested by the Applicant in their letter to the Respondent dated May 27, 2024, amounts to a violation of Sections 4 and 5 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and is therefore unjustifiable, wrongful, and unlawful.

The case has been proceeding extremely quickly since it was filed in 2024.

As a result, GICN has requested that the court’s Chief Judge transfer the case to a different judge.

The plaintiff is requesting that the court transfer the matter to a different judge in a letter dated January 20, 2026, and signed by Peter Chidiebere Nworie.

“We write as Legal Practitioners to The Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), hereinafter referred to as our Client, regarding the aforementioned suit,” the plaintiff stated in the letter. The lawsuit is currently pending before the Federal High Court 2, which is presided over by Hon. Justice G.K. Olotu. “According to the records, the suit is a simple application for Judicial Review by way of Mandamus, filed on May 18, 2024, seeking the release of a certain FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT of the 1st Respondent. As it stands, the suit has remained pending for an unreasonably long period through no fault of the Applicant. The Respondents’ actions have caused the matter to experience needless adjournments despite the Applicant’s persistent diligence. “It is pertinent to note that Mrs. Asabe Waziri sought and was joined as 2nd Respondent to the suit, notwithstanding the reliefs sought do not lie against her but are strictly directed at the statutory duty of the 1st Respondent.” “As if that was not enough, the 1* Respondent only filed a Conditional Memorandum of Appearance on October 3, 2025, and failed to file and serve substantive processes. “On January 12, 2026, the Applicant was represented. Due to renovations being done to the courtroom, His Lordship was unable to convene on the scheduled date. As a result, the matter has been postponed until March 23, 2026. “In the circumstances and without any imputation against the integrity of the Presiding Judge, …