Two Abuja-based legal practitioners, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, were on Tuesday arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo Division, on charges of alleged document forgery and impersonation.
According Daily Post, the defendants are facing a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, false personation, and fraudulent execution of documents.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed on June 28, 2024, when Giwa and Bukola allegedly forged a letter using the official letterhead of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu, and addressed it to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
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The forged letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, reportedly sought to influence the AGF to halt Giwa’s scheduled arraignment before Justice Samira Bature at the High Court, Maitama.
The matter, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, had previously been stalled on September 15, 2025, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant for Giwa’s arrest. He was subsequently apprehended.
His co-defendant, Bukola, who had been at large, was presented in court during Tuesday’s proceedings.
During the session, Prosecution Counsel Asaph Eristo informed the court that the matter was fixed for arraignment. The charges were read in open court, and both Giwa and Bukola pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution urged the court to remand Giwa in prison custody to prevent possible interference with ongoing investigations.
However, defence counsel, Edwin Anikpenu, SAN, applied for bail, stressing that both defendants are legal practitioners. He further noted that the second defendant, Bukola, is a nursing mother and sought the court’s permission to orally amend the existing bail application to include her.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, visibly displeased with the move, criticised the defence for presenting an oral bail application despite being represented by more than a dozen lawyers.
“It is shocking that a lawyer, a Senior Advocate, would come with an oral application and attempt to add another defendant without documentation. With 13 lawyers present, none deemed it fit to file a proper bail application,” the judge remarked.
The court subsequently refused bail for the second defendant and ordered that she be remanded at the Correctional Facility in Suleja, Niger State.
On Giwa’s bail application, Anikpenu urged the court to either grant bail on self-recognition or allow him to be released to the custody of a reputable executive member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki Branch, assuring the court that his client would not interfere with the case.
The prosecution opposed the application, citing a counter-affidavit and presenting evidence that Giwa posed a flight risk, pointing out that public funds had been expended to secure his arrest.
After considering arguments from both sides, the court granted Victor Giwa bail in the sum of ₦30 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The court stipulated that the sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 16, resident in Abuja, with verifiable residential addresses and valid identification cards. They are also required to submit their international passports to the court.
The case was adjourned until October 15, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
Also present in court were A.A. Askira of the Civil Liberty Committee of the NBA, who held a watching brief for the defendant, and Levi Nwonye, Esq., who represented the nominal complainant.
