A High Court in Abuja has commenced the trial of Victor Giwa, an Abuja-based lawyer, and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, on charges of alleged forgery and impersonation. The duo appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, facing accusations of forging official documents and impersonating a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Awa Kalu, to deceive the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation into withdrawing criminal charges against Giwa.
The prosecution counsel, F.G. Gabriel, called the first prosecution witness, a resident of Maitama, Abuja, who testified about a series of events that transpired between June 28 and July 8, 2024. The witness alleged that she had bought a property from a developer, Cecil Osakwe, in February 2021, and had taken possession after full payment. However, Osakwe attempted to reclaim the property after its value rose, a pattern the witness claimed was consistent with his dealings.
The witness further testified that Osakwe had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in September 2021, but the case was dismissed after she provided proof of payment. Subsequently, Osakwe filed a civil suit against her, and she received a letter purportedly from Giwa, ordering her to vacate her home within 14 days or face forceful eviction. The witness alleged that Giwa led armed thugs and some policemen to break into her home and forcefully eject her and her wards.
The matter was later escalated to the AGF’s office, which filed a nine-count charge against Giwa, including illegal eviction, malicious damage, and mischief. The witness testified that Giwa allegedly forged a letter to the AGF, impersonating Awa Kalu, to request the withdrawal of the charges. The authenticity of the letter was doubted by the witness’s lawyer due to noticeable grammatical and spelling errors, and it was later confirmed by Kalu’s chambers that the letter did not emanate from him.
The court admitted the witness’s written statement to the police as evidence, and the case was adjourned to November 12, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness. The trial highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of documents and the potential consequences of forgery and impersonation. The case is ongoing, and the court’s decision will have significant implications for the defendants and the rule of law in Nigeria.