The trial of an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, and his associate, Ibitade Bukola, accused of forgery and impersonation, began on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja.
The two defendants are facing charges for allegedly forging a letter purportedly written by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa Kalu, and using it to deceive the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) into withdrawing a criminal case against Giwa that was pending before another FCT High Court in Maitama.
At Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution counsel, F.G. Gabriel, called the first prosecution witness (PW1), a resident of Maitama, Abuja, who narrated how the alleged forgery came to light and the events that led to the ongoing case.
The witness told the court that her troubles began after she purchased a property from a real estate developer, Cecil Osakwe, in February 2021. She said she fully paid for the house and moved in, but Osakwe later tried to reclaim it after its value appreciated.
She alleged that Osakwe had a reputation for such behavior, saying he had tried similar tactics with other property buyers. According to her, Osakwe petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in September 2021, accusing her of wrongdoing, but the case was dismissed after she provided proof of payment.
Not satisfied, Osakwe filed a civil case against her. Shortly after, she received a letter dated December 21, 2021, allegedly signed by Giwa, ordering her to vacate the house within 14 days or face “forceful eviction.”
“True to his threat, he led armed thugs and some policemen, now at large, who broke into my home and forcefully ejected me and my wards under the guise of executing a purported court judgment,” the witness told the court.
The witness said the matter was later taken up by the AGF’s office, which filed a nine-count charge against Giwa for alleged illegal eviction, malicious damage, disconnection of utilities, and mischief.
However, she said Giwa allegedly forged a letter to the AGF, posing as Awa Kalu (SAN), requesting the withdrawal of the charges.
According to her, the fake letter was discovered online on July 8, 2024, prompting her to alert her lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, who immediately questioned its authenticity due to grammatical and spelling errors in the document.
“Upon verification, Kalu’s chambers confirmed that the letter did not come from him, and that the second defendant, Bukola, whose NBA seal appeared on the letter, had never worked with the firm,” the witness explained.
She said she promptly reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), leading to an investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.
“Had I not exposed the forgery,” she told the court, “the AGF might have been misled into withdrawing the nine-count charge against the first defendant, and that would have been a serious miscarriage of justice.”
The witness also alleged that Giwa has continued to occupy her property unlawfully and is still in possession of her belongings that were seized during the alleged eviction carried out on March 18, 2022.
Her written statement to the police was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 1A without objection from the defence.
While Giwa represented himself in court, the second defendant, Bukola, was represented by counsel Ogbu Aboje.
Prosecution counsel F.G. Gabriel said more witnesses will be called to testify and provide documentary evidence linking the defendants to the alleged forgery. He emphasized that the case goes beyond property ownership, as it involves serious criminal allegations of impersonation and deception of a public institution.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until November 12, 2025, for the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.
The case has attracted public attention in legal circles because it involves allegations of impersonating a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and attempting to deceive the Attorney-General’s Office — an act that could undermine confidence in the legal profession if proven true.
If convicted, the defendants face several years in prison for offences bordering on forgery, conspiracy, and impersonation under Nigerian criminal law.
Forgery and impersonation are serious criminal offences in Nigeria, punishable under Sections 363 and 364 of the Criminal Code Act. Legal experts say the case highlights growing concerns about the misuse of official documents and the need for stronger verification systems within public offices.
