A High Court in Abuja has begun the trial of Victor Giwa, an Abuja‑based lawyer, and his co‑defendant Ibitade Bukola on charges of alleged forgery and impersonation. The two appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, accused of forging official documents and impersonating Senior Advocate of Nigeria Awa Kalu in an attempt to deceive the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF) into withdrawing criminal charges against Giwa.
Prosecution counsel F.G. Gabriel called the first witness, a resident of Maitama, Abuja, who recounted events that occurred between 28 June and 8 July 2024. She testified that she bought a property from developer Cecil Osakwe in February 2021 and took possession after making full payment. According to her, Osakwe later tried to reclaim the property after its value increased, a pattern she said was typical of his dealings. She further alleged that Osakwe petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in September 2021, but the case was dismissed when she produced 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. She claimed that Giwa led armed thugs and some policemen to break into her home and forcibly eject her and her wards. The matter was then escalated to the AGF’s office, which filed a nine‑count charge against Giwa, including illegal eviction, malicious damage and mischief.
The witness also testified that Giwa allegedly forged a letter to the AGF, impersonating Awa Kalu, to request the withdrawal of the charges. Her lawyer questioned the letter’s authenticity because of noticeable grammatical and spelling errors, and Kalu’s chambers later confirmed that the letter did not originate from him. The court admitted the witness’s written statement to the police as evidence and adjourned the case to 12 November 2025 for cross‑examination of the witness.
The trial underscores the importance of verifying document authenticity and highlights the serious consequences of forgery and impersonation. The case remains ongoing, and the court’s eventual decision will have significant implications for the defendants and for the rule of law in Nigeria.
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