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The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Thursday commenced hearing in the case involving an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, who are being prosecuted for alleged forgery and impersonation.
Both defendants appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie over allegations that they forged official documents and impersonated a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa Kalu, with the intention of deceiving the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) into withdrawing criminal charges already filed against Giwa before another FCT High Court in Maitama.
At the resumed sitting, the prosecution counsel, F. G. Gabriel, called the first prosecution witness (PW1), a resident of Maitama, Abuja, who narrated the sequence of events that occurred between 28 June and 8 July 2024.
The witness told the court that she had purchased a property from a developer, Cecil Osakwe, in February 2021, fully paid for it, and taken possession. She alleged that Osakwe later attempted to repossess the property after its value increased, a behaviour she claimed reflected his usual pattern of dealings.
According to PW1, Osakwe lodged a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in September 2021, but the matter was dismissed after she provided proof of payment. Subsequently, Osakwe instituted a civil suit against her, after which she received a letter dated 21 December 2021, purportedly from Giwa, ordering her to vacate her home within 14 days or face eviction by force.
“True to his threat, he led armed thugs and some policemen, now at large, who broke into my home and forcefully ejected me and my wards under the guise of executing a purported court judgment,” she recounted.
She explained that the matter was later taken to the AGF’s office, which filed a nine-count charge against Giwa, including illegal eviction, malicious damage, disconnection of essential services, and mischief.
PW1 told the court that Giwa was meant to be arraigned on 2 July 2024 but allegedly forged a letter to the AGF, impersonating Awa Kalu (SAN), to request the withdrawal of the charges.
She said she came across the letter online on 8 July 2024 and forwarded it to her lawyer, Mr Deji Adeyanju, who doubted its genuineness due to noticeable grammatical and spelling errors. Upon verification, Kalu’s chambers confirmed that the letter did not originate from him and that the second defendant, Bukola, whose NBA seal appeared on the document, had never been employed at the firm.
PW1 said she then petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), which led to an investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
“Had I not exposed the forgery,” she said, “the AGF might have been misled into withdrawing the nine-count charge against the first defendant, resulting in a grave miscarriage of justice.”
She further alleged that Giwa still holds possession of her property and belongings seized during the alleged illegal eviction on 18 March 2022.
The court admitted her written statement to the police as Exhibit 1A after no objection was raised by defence counsel, Ogbu Aboje, who represents the second defendant. Giwa represented himself.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to 12 November 2025 for the cross-examination of the witness.
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