The police have dragged an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, over an alleged attempt to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation into dropping a criminal case.
Giwa and a co-defendant, identified as Bukola, are facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.
The charge, marked CR/150/25, was filed by the Inspector General of Police and accused the defendants of fabricating a letter purportedly from the chambers of prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu, to mislead the AGF into halting a pending criminal case.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 28, 2024, when the defendants allegedly forged and dispatched a letter titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023.”
The letter, addressed to the AGF and written on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requested the suspension of Giwa’s arraignment scheduled for July 2, 2024, before Justice Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The prosecution alleged that the forged letter falsely claimed to be from Kalu’s chambers and argued for the withdrawal of charges against Giwa in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play.”
Giwa, along with property developer, Cecil Osakwe, and others, is facing separate nine counts involving alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and property damage amounting to N300m.
In the current case, Giwa and Bukola were charged with conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004).
They were also accused of dishonest execution of a fraudulent document and false personation of a legal practitioner.
The prosecution is being led by Rabiu Usman from the Legal/Prosecution Section under the authority of the Inspector General of Police.
At the scheduled arraignment before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Monday, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both defendants.
Defence counsel U.J. Udo explained that Giwa was bereaved and had travelled for his sister’s burial, requesting an adjournment.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, adjourning the matter to September 15, 2025, for arraignment.
He, however, issued a stern warning that no further delays would be tolerated.
