Abuja-based lawyer wanted for forgery, impersonation arrested

By Edith Nwapi/NAN

An Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, facing charges of forgery and impersonation, is now with the police as aftermath of a bench warrant issued against him by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo.

Giwa was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos and sighted at Asokoro Police Station on Friday.

Giwa, alongside his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, is facing charges of forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie had on Sept. 15 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Giwa and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola.

This followed their failure to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on charges of forgery and impersonation.

Court officials said that the police had notified the court of their readiness to present Giwa in court on Thursday (Sept.25), but the judge had waited endlessly without their appearance.

According to them, as issues stand, Giwa is expected to make an appearance on the next adjourned date of Oct. 8, barring any other development.

In the charge marked CR/150/25 filed by the Inspector General of Police, the duo of Giwa and Bukola is 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 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In the letter, the supposed authors argued that the charges against Giwa at the FCT high court, Maitama, should be withdrawn in the interest of “natural justice, equity and fair play.”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 Justice Onwuegbuzie, the FCT High Court 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).

At the resumed hearing on Sept.15, Prosecution Counsel, Eristo Asaph, recalled that at the last sitting on May 26, counsel to the 1st defendant had notified the court of Giwa losing two sisters.

He added that Giwa was in the middle of preparation for their burial, for which an adjournment was sought and granted.

He also recalled the judge charging that both accused persons should make themselves available unfailing for trial.

Counsel for both defendants, Ogbu Aboje, had told the court that the first defendant, Giwa, had written a letter along with a medical report to the court dated Sept. 3.

He added that the letter was notifying the court that he has the need to attend to a serious and urgent medical issue.

Speaking on behalf of the 2nd defendant, Aboje said that she has to visit the hospital this morning as she has a routine appointment for her daughter’s immunisation.

The prosecution counsel, Asaph, objected to the 1st defendant’s letter before the court.

This was on the premise that the said medical report did not indicate that he would be unable to be present in court because of an ailment that can be very easily managed.

Asaph, therefore, urged the court to in view of that defect, discountenance the said letter.

He also argued that the 2nd defendant did not bother to produce any letter or document to show the medical appointment, so the court should reject her plea.

Asaph further said that in view of the development, a bench warrant should be issued against both the 1st and 2nd defendants for refusing to be in court.

Reacting, the defence counsel drew the attention of the court to the explanations of the defendants about their medical issues.

He pleaded on their behalf on the matter as they had, out of respect for the court, deemed it necessary to notify it.

Ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that he observed that the medical report did not say the 1st defendant would be unable to attend court, while the 2nd defendant did not even produce any document at all.

Justice Onwuegbuzie then, issued bench warrant according to Section 352 of ACJA, to compel the defendant’s appearance at the next adjourned date of Oct. 8, which resulted in the arrest of Giwa.