The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has arraigned two Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over alleged forgery and impersonation.
This follows previous adjournments for arraignment which subsequently led to issuance of bench warrant for arrest of the lawyers.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie sitting at Apo, Abuja, on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, false personation and fraudulent execution of documents.
In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/150/25, both defendants were alleged, among others, to have on June 28, 2024, purportedly forged a letter using the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu SAN and addressed same to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The forged letter titled ‘Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023’ allegedly sought to influence the AGF to stop Giwa’s arraignment scheduled before Justice Samira Bature at the High Court, Maitama.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them in the open court.
Following their not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Asaph Eristo, asked the court to remand Giwa in prison custody, citing the need to prevent interference with investigations.
On his part, counsel for the defendants, Edwin Anikpenu SAN, while seeking the leave of the court to make oral amendment to the existing bail application before the court to include the second defendant, urged the court to admit both defendants to bail, adding that they are legal practitioners.
He added that apart being lawyers, the second defendant, Bukola is a nursing mother.
As for Giwa, Anikpenu urged the court to consider admitting him on self-recognition or to the custody of a reputable executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki Branch, promising that he would not interfere with the case.
The prosecutor, however, opposed the application on the ground that Giwa is a flight risk, noting that public funds were used to effect his arrest.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, however, expressed the court’s displeasure with the oral bail request, saying that, ‘It is shocking that a lawyer would come with an oral application and attempt to add another defendant without documentation. With 13 lawyers present, none deemed it fit to file a proper bail application.’
He subsequently refused bail for the second defendant and remanded her at the Suleja Correctional Facility in Suleja, Niger State.
The court then granted Giwa bail in the sum of ?30 million, with two sureties in like sum, who must be civil servants not below Grade Level 16, resident in Abuja, with verifiable addresses and valid ID cards. They must also submit their international passports.
The judge ordered that Giwa be remanded in police custody till he perfects his bail conditions.
He subsequently adjourned the case to October 15 for hearing.