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Acting on a bench warrant issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, 15 September, police operatives on Friday apprehended lawyer Victor Giwa in Lagos.
The bench warrant was issued against two Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, who were brought before the court by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over allegations related to forgery and impersonation.
In the charge labelled CR/150/25, the two legal practitioners were accused of collaborating to forge a legal document allegedly issued by Awa U. Kalu SAN Chambers, with the intent of deceiving the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
As stated by the police, the defendants, on 28 June 2024, forged and signed a letter using the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu SAN. The letter was intended to request the AGF to postpone a planned arraignment of Giwa before Justice Samira Nature of the High Court of the FCT, Maitama, Abuja, set for 2 July 2024.
They were alleged to have authored the disputed letter on the Awa U. Kalu SAN Chambers letterhead, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa Esq on Charge Number CR/222/2023”, and directed it to the AGF.
The prosecution stated that the purported letter appealed for the AGF’s intervention to stop Giwa’s arraignment alongside others before Justice Bature and to withdraw the charges against him in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play”.
A property developer, Cecil Osakwe, alongside Giwa and Edith Erhunmwuse, were scheduled to be arraigned on a nine-count charge involving alleged unlawful eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage valued at N300 million before Justice Bature.
The police claimed that the offences committed by Giwa and Bukola are punishable under Sections 97, 364, and 179 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
During the most recent court session on Monday, Justice Onwuegbuzie issued the bench warrant following an application made by the prosecution counsel, Eristo Asaph. The request was prompted by the defendants’ failure to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on the three-count charge filed by the IGP.
Their lawyer, Ugbo Aboje, informed the court that Giwa was absent due to a degenerative lumbar illness and had submitted a letter to the court along with a medical report.
He further explained that Ibitade was absent because she had a medical appointment concerning her daughter’s immunisation.
Justice Onwuegbuzie stated that the bench warrant was issued in accordance with Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to ensure that the defendants appear in court on the next adjourned date to enter their pleas.
The judge subsequently fixed 8 October for the arraignment of the accused.
According to police sources, Giwa was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in Lagos on Friday and is currently being held at the Zone 2 Command headquarters in Lagos.
One source disclosed that Giwa is expected to be transferred to Abuja on Monday, 22 September, in compliance with the court’s directive.
The police, the source added, are actively searching for Ibitade to execute the bench warrant and ensure both she and Giwa are brought before the court.
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