Photo caption: Police
The Nigerian police have arraigned an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, over allegations of forgery and impersonation.
The defendants in a three-count charge marked CR/150/25, filed by the Inspector General of Police, are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to the charge, the alleged offence took place on June 28, 2024.
The prosecution claims that Giwa and 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 purported to originate from the SAN’s chambers and sought intervention to halt the arraignment scheduled before Hon. Justice Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.
The supposed authors of the letter argued that the charges against Giwa should be withdrawn in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play.”
Giwa, alongside property developer Cecil Osakwe and others, was to be arraigned on a nine-count charge relating to alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and property damage amounting to N300 million.
The charges against Giwa and Bukola include 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 before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo. However, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both defendants.
Prosecution counsel J.K. Kolawole appeared on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, while U.J. Udo represented the defendants.
Addressing the court, Udo informed Justice Onwuegbuzie that the first defendant, Victor Giwa, was bereaved and had travelled to his village for his sister’s burial. He, therefore, requested an adjournment.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and adjourned the matter to 15 September 2025 for arraignment. The judge, however, warned that no further excuses would be entertained at the next sitting.
