Two Abuja Lawyers Face Trial for Alleged Forgery and Attempt to Mislead Attorney General

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, is set to try two Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, on charges of conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation. The charges stem from an alleged attempt to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by forging a legal document purportedly from the chambers of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu.

According to the three-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police, the defendants allegedly forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment. The letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023,” was purportedly addressed to the AGF and sought intervention to halt the arraignment scheduled before Justice Samira Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.

The prosecution claims that the letter was intended to mislead the AGF into suspending legal proceedings against Giwa, who, along with property developer Cecil Osakwe and others, faced a nine-count charge related to alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage amounting to ₦300 million.

The arraignment of Giwa and Bukola was initially scheduled for May 26, 2025, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. However, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both defendants. Defense counsel U.J. Udoh informed the court that Giwa was bereaved, having lost two of his sisters, and had traveled to his village for their funeral arrangements. The court granted an adjournment but warned that no further excuses would be entertained at the next sitting.

The charges against the defendants include conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation, dishonest execution of a fraudulent document, and false personation of a legal practitioner, punishable under Sections 97, 364, and 179 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

This case underscores the seriousness with which the Nigerian legal system treats allegations of professional misconduct and attempts to subvert the course of justice.