A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, has said he has no hand in a forgery and impersonation complaint filed against Abuja-based lawyer Victor Giwa.
Kalu, however, did not confirm nor deny that Giwa forged his letterhead or impersonated him.
In a letter dated May 30, 2025, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the senior advocate clarified that he did not report any forgery of his firm’s official letterhead.
“I wish to inform you that the internet is agog with news that a charge is preferred against the above-named gentleman, indicating that he forged my official headed paper,” he wrote.
“Please note that I have neither filed a complaint nor have I incidented a report at any police station in Nigeria indicating that Mr Victor Giwa forged my official headed paper,” he added.
The SAN confirmed to NEWSNGR that the letter disclaiming the forgery complaint against Giwa is genuine.
He, however, did not provide further details on the forgery allegation against the lawyer.
Prof. Kalu’s clarification follows media reports on a suit by the Nigerian Police in Charge No. CR/150/25, in which Giwa and a co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, are standing trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Apo, Abuja.
The police allege that the duo conspired to forge and issue a letter on the official letterhead of Prof. Kalu’s chambers, “Awa U. Kalu (SAN) & Partners”, to mislead the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
According to the charge sheet, the letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa Esq. on Charge Number CR/222/2023”, was purportedly addressed to the AGF on June 28, 2024, seeking his intervention to halt Giwa’s arraignment scheduled for July 2, 2024, before Justice Samira Bature of the FCT High Court in Maitama.
The arraignment relates to a separate nine-count charge against Giwa, property owner Cecil Osakwe Giwa, and Edith Erhunmwuse for alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and destruction of property valued at N300m.
The offences in the forgery case are said to contravene Sections 97, 364, and 179 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
At the court hearing in the forgery case, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both Giwa and Bukola.
Counsel to the defendants, U.J. Udoh, informed the court that Giwa had travelled to his village to make burial arrangements following the death of his two sisters.
Prosecution counsel J.K. Kolawole, who held briefs for Erasto Asaph, did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025, while warning that no further excuses would be tolerated at the next hearing.
Leave a Comment