Two Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, have been arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo Division, over alleged involvement in document forgery and impersonation.
Gatekeepers News reports that the duo face a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, false personation, and fraudulent execution of documents. Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Wednesday.
According to the charge sheet, the offences were allegedly committed on June 28, 2024, when Giwa and Bukola purportedly forged a letter using the official letterhead of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa Kalu, and addressed it to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The forged document was allegedly meant to influence the AGF to halt Giwa’s arraignment earlier scheduled before Justice Samira Bature of the FCT High Court, Maitama.
The case, initially slated for September 15, 2025, had been stalled after Giwa failed to appear in court, prompting Justice Onwuegbuzie to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. He was later apprehended by the authorities.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Asaph Eristo informed the court that the session was for arraignment. After the defendants took their plea, Eristo urged the court to remand Giwa in prison custody, citing the risk of interference with ongoing investigations.
However, Edwin Anikpenu (SAN), counsel to the defendants, applied for bail, arguing that both accused persons were legal practitioners and that Bukola is a nursing mother. He sought the court’s leave to make an oral amendment to the existing bail application to include her.
Justice Onwuegbuzie criticised the defence for making an oral request despite being represented by over a dozen lawyers, noting that such a move was procedurally improper.
The court subsequently refused bail for the second defendant, ordering that Bukola be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
On Giwa’s bail application, Anikpenu pleaded that the court consider granting bail on self-recognition or allowing him to be placed in the custody of a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) executive from the Garki branch, assuring that his client would not obstruct proceedings.
The prosecution opposed the plea, referencing a counter-affidavit and claiming that Giwa posed a flight risk, as “public funds were used to effect his arrest.”
After hearing both sides, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted Giwa bail in the sum of ₦30 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 16, residents of Abuja with verifiable addresses and valid identification, and must submit their international passports to the court.
The judge ordered that Giwa remain in custody until he fulfils the bail conditions and adjourned the case to October 15, 2025, for continuation.
