Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja, on Monday remanded in Police custody an Abuja Lawyer, Victor Giwa, who was arrested in Lagos following a bench warrant issued by the court.
Justice Onwuegbuzie had on Monday, September 15th, 2025, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Giwa and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, after they failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on charges of forgery and impersonation, in a charge marked CR/150/25 and filed by the Inspector General of Police.
At Monday’s sitting, the Prosecution was represented by its counsel, Theophilus Silas, while Giwa told the court that he would be representing himself because his counsel was unavailable.
Silas presented the defendant before the court to report developments as they relate to the bench warrant the court had issued on September 15, 2025, for the arrest of Giwa and the 2nd defendant, Bukola.
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Silas told the court that while Giwa has been arrested, the police are still on the trail of the 2nd defendant and hope to apprehend her before the next adjourned date.
He, therefore, urged the court to remand the defendant in their custody in line with the provisions of Section 293 and Section 43(subsection 4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
Speaking for himself, Giwa said he is opposing the application of the Prosecutor very vehemently as Section 293, the Prosecution cited, does not apply to the case.
He also argued that the proceedings of the day concern the bench warrant issued under Section 43 (Sub 4), but that Section 45 stipulates that when an arrest is effected outside the state or the jurisdiction of the court, he is expected to be presented before the court for report.
He further argued that he is a minister in the temple of justice and will not undermine the court.
The judge asked the prosecution why it was not prepared for arraignment today, because the prosecution has no power to keep the person arrested indefinitely, and while the letter from the prosecution is asking for an abbreviated date for arraignment, the court has other cases to attend to.
The Prosecution submitted that it will be guided by the court, but the 1st defendant should be remanded with the police because he presents a flight risk, as he was arrested in Lagos State.
Reacting, Giwa pointed out that he had just seen the letter regarding abridgement, and he wants to describe it as an ambush.
Giwa insisted that he is ready for arraignment, but that even the 2nd defendant has not been brought to court, so it cannot take place because it was a joint offence they were being charged with.
Ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie said the 1st defendant, after his arrest, being a counsel ought to know that he should file a bail application and not an oral request.
He said in the absence of a written bail application, the defendant is remanded with the police and adjourned the matter to October 8, 2025.
Ibitade Bukola are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The contentious letter had sought intervention to halt an arraignment scheduled before Hon. Justice Samira Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.
Tolulope Popoola
Tolulope is a dynamic media professional with a knack for impactful storytelling and digital content curation. Skilled in journalism, news editing, and corporate communications, she leads with creativity and precision.
She holds both her first and second degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and is currently the Deputy Online Editor at BusinessDay.
