Police arraign Abuja lawyer, Victor Giwa, for alleged forgery, impersonation

The Police have arraigned Victor Giwa, an Abuja-based lawyer, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo over allegations of forgery and impersonation.

Giwa is standing trial alongside co-defendant Bukola in a three-count charge marked CR/150/25, filed by the Inspector General of Police. The defendants 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 (AGF).

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024. The prosecution alleges that Giwa and Bukola forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), appealing to the AGF to suspend a scheduled court appearance.

The 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 and claimed to be from the chambers of the senior advocate. It urged the AGF to intervene and halt Giwa’s arraignment before Justice Bature of the FCT High Court, Maitama, scheduled for July 2, 2024. The authors cited “natural justice, equity, and fair play” as grounds for the request.

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Giwa, along with property developer Cecil Osakwe and others, was to be arraigned on a separate nine-count charge involving alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and property damage valued at N300 million.

The charges against Giwa and Bukola in the present case include conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation, in violation of Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004; fraudulent execution of documents under Section 364; and false personation of a legal practitioner under Section 179.

The case is being prosecuted by Rabiu U. Usman of the Legal/Prosecution Section under the authority of the Inspector General of Police.

At the scheduled arraignment on Monday, the matter came before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo. However, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both defendants.

Defence counsel U.J. Udo informed the court that Victor Giwa was unable to attend due to bereavement and had travelled to his hometown for his sister’s burial. He requested an adjournment.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and adjourned the case to September 15, 2025, for arraignment. He warned, however, that no further excuses would be accepted at the next hearing.