An Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, has been dragged before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, over allegations bordering on forgery and impersonation.
In the charge marked CR/150/25 filed by the Inspector General of Police, the duo of Giwa and Ibitade Bukola are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024. The prosecution claims that Giwa and Ibitade Bukola forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.
The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.
It purportedly originated from the SAN’s chambers and sought intervention to halt the arraignment scheduled before Hon. Justice Samira Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.
In the letter, the supposed authors argued that the charges against Giwa at the FCT high court, Maitama, should be withdrawn in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play.”
Giwa, alongside property developer Cecil Osakwe and one other, were to be arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage amounting to N300 million, before Justice Bature.
However, the fresh charge before the FCT high court that Apo brought against Giwa and Bukola includes conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004), dishonest execution of a fraudulent document (Section 364), and false personation of a legal practitioner (Section 179).
The case, involving allegations of professional misconduct, is being prosecuted by Rabiu U. Usman, Esq., of the Legal/Prosecution Section under the authority of the Inspector General of Police.
At the scheduled arraignment on Monday, the case came up before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo. However, proceedings were stalled as both defendants were absent from court.
Prosecution counsel J.K. Kolawole appeared for the Inspector General of Police, while U.J. Udoh represented the defendants.
Addressing the court, Udoh informed the judge that the first defendant, Victor Giwa, was bereaved and had travelled to his village to bury his sister.
She, therefore, prayed to the court for an adjournment.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025, for arraignment.
The judge, however, warned that he would not entertain further excuses at the next sitting.
