Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant against two lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, over their repeated failure to appear in court, which has stalled their arraignment.

Giwa and Bukola are facing charges of forgery and impersonation filed by the Inspector General of Police in a case marked CR/150/25. They are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document allegedly issued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Awa U. Kalu, with the intention of deceiving the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). The alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

According to the prosecution, the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment. The letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023,” was addressed to the AGF and purportedly emanated from the SAN’s chambers. It sought the withdrawal of charges against Giwa before Hon. Justice Samira Bature of the High Court, Maitama, Abuja, where he, property developer Cecil Osakwe, and another defendant were due to be arraigned on July 2, 2024.

The forged letter urged that the charges be withdrawn “in the interest of natural justice, equity, and fair play.” Giwa, Osakwe, and the co-defendant were to face a nine-count charge bordering on illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage estimated at N300 million.

The fresh charges against Giwa and Bukola include conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004), dishonest execution of a fraudulent document (Section 364), and false personation of a legal practitioner (Section 179).

At the last sitting on May 26, 2025, prosecuting counsel Eristo Asaph informed the court that the first defendant’s counsel had sought an adjournment due to the death of two relatives. However, when the matter came up again, both defendants failed to appear for arraignment.

Defence counsel, Ogbu Aboje, explained that Giwa was suffering from a serious medical condition and submitted a medical report to that effect. He also told the court that the second defendant, Bukola, was absent because she had to take her daughter for immunisation.

The prosecution challenged the validity of Giwa’s medical report and opposed the excuses, urging the court to issue a bench warrant to compel the defendants’ attendance. The defence, however, pleaded with the court not to grant the application.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie observed that while Giwa had presented a medical report to justify his absence, Bukola failed to provide any documentation to support her claim. Relying on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the judge issued a bench warrant against both defendants to ensure their presence at the next adjourned date, fixed for October 8, 2025.