The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja, has granted bail to lawyer Victor Giwa in the sum of ?30
million following his arraignment on charges of forgery, false personation,
and fraudulent execution of documents.
Giwa and his co-defendant, Bukola, pleaded not
guilty to the three-count charge brought against them by the
prosecution.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences
were committed on June 28, 2024, when the defendants purportedly forged
a letter using the official letterhead of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Awa
Kalu, and addressed it to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF),
Lateef Fagbemi. The forged document was allegedly aimed at halting Giwa’s
arraignment earlier scheduled before Justice Samira Bature at the High
Court, Maitama.
The case, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie,
had earlier been stalled on September 15, 2025, prompting a bench
warrant for Giwa’s arrest.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Asaph
Eristo requested that the defendants be remanded in custody to prevent
interference with investigations.
However, defence counsel Edwin Anikpenu (SAN)
applied for bail, citing the defendants’ status as legal practitioners and
noting that the second defendant is a nursing mother.
Justice Onwuegbuzie criticised the defence for making
an oral bail application despite being represented by a large legal team. The
court refused bail for the second defendant, ordering her remand at the
Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
Giwa was, however, granted bail with two sureties in
like sum. The sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 16,
resident in Abuja, with verifiable addresses and valid ID cards, and
must deposit their international passports with the court.
The court ordered that Giwa remain in police custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the matter to October 15, 2025, for further hearing.
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