By Haruna Salami
Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, who was declared wanted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo on Monday, has been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie had, on Monday, September 15, 2025, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Giwa and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, after they failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on charges of forgery and impersonation.
Police sources have confirmed that Giwa was picked up in Lagos Friday, September 19, 2025, and is currently being held at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters.
He is expected to be transferred to Abuja on Monday, September 22, in compliance with the bench warrant.
In the charge marked CR/150/25 filed by the Inspector General of Police, the duo of Giwa and Ibitade Bukola are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.
The prosecution claims that Giwa and Ibitade Bukola forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.
The contentious 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.
It purportedly originated from the SAN’s chambers and sought intervention to halt the arraignment scheduled before Hon. Justice Samira Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.
In the letter, the supposed authors argued that the charges against Giwa at the FCT High Court, Maitama, should be withdrawn in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play”.
Giwa, alongside property developer Cecil Osakwe and one other, were to be arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage amounting to N300 million, before Justice Bature.
However, the fresh charge before the FCT High Court Apo brought against Giwa and Bukola includes conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004), dishonest execution of a fraudulent document (Section 364), and false personation of a legal practitioner (Section 179).
At the resumed sitting of the court on Monday, Prosecution Counsel, Eristo Asaph, recalled that at the last sitting on 26th May 2025, counsel to the 1st defendant had notified the court of the lose of two sisters and he was in the middle of preparation for their burial for which an adjournment was sought and granted.
He also recalled the judge charging that both accused should make themselves available unfailing.
Counsel for both defendants, Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the first defendant, Mr. Giwa had written a letter along with a medical report to the court dated September 3, notifying the court that he has need to attend to a serious and urgent medical issue.
Speaking on behalf of the 2nd defendant, Aboje said she has to visit the hospital this morning as she has a routine appointment over her daughter’s immunisation.
The prosecution counsel, Asaph opposed the 1st defendant’s letter before the court on the premise that the said medical report did not indicate that he would be unable to be present in court because of an ailment that can be very easily managed.
Asaph, therefore, urged the court to, in view of that defect, discountenance the said letter.
He also agued that the 2nd defendant did not bother to produce any letter or document to show the medical appointment so the court should reject her plea.
Speaking further, Asaph said that in view of the development, a bench warrant should be issued against both the 1st and 2nd defendants for refusing to be in court willingly.
Reacting, the defence counsel drew the attention of the court to the explanations of the defendants about their medical issues and pleaded on their behalf on the matter as they had out of respect for the court deemed it necessary to notify it.
Ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie said having listened to both counsels he has observed that the medical report did not say the 1st defendant would be unable to attend court while the 2nd defendant did not even produce any document at all.
Justice Onwuegbuzie said as a result of the foregoing a bench warrant has been issued according to Section 352 of ACJA against the defendants to compel their appearance at the next adjourned date of October 8, 2025.
Barr. Ibitade Bukola is also expected to be arrested with the duo expected to appear before Justice Onwuegbuzie to answer to the charges of conspiracy, forgery, fraudulent execution of documents, and false personation of a legal practitioner.
