Court Strikes Out Six Motions by Abuja Lawyer in Alleged Forgery, Impersonation Trial
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday struck out six motions filed by an Abuja‑based lawyer, Victor Giwa, as part of his ongoing criminal trial over alleged forgery and impersonation charges.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie dismissed all six applications, including a recusal motion that sought to remove him from the case, after the defence repeatedly declined to move the motions when called before the court.
Background of the Case
Giwa and a co‑defendant, Ibitade Bukola, are standing trial on allegations that they forged official documents and impersonated a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa Kalu, in an attempt to mislead the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation into withdrawing a previous criminal charge against Giwa.
The charges, which include conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and fraudulent execution of documents, relate to an alleged incident dating back to June 28, 2024.
What Happened in Court
At the resumed proceedings, the prosecutor, Theophilus Silas, informed the court that both defence and prosecution motions were ready to be heard. However, Giwa objected to the court taking up any motion, insisting that his petitions to the Chief Judge of the FCT and the National Judicial Council (NJC) alleging judicial bias must be determined first. He also urged the court to adjourn the matter indefinitely, claiming he could not obtain justice before the trial judge.
Justice Onwuegbuzie rejected these arguments, holding that petitions to higher judicial authorities do not automatically halt criminal proceedings. The judge noted that Giwa’s refusal to move his motions amounted to disobedience of court orders, and that the applications appeared designed to delay the trial.
As a result, all six motions — including the recusal application — were struck out, and the case was adjourned to January 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Defence and Court Dynamics
During the hearing, Giwa’s counsel was absent, leading Giwa to represent himself. The co‑defendant, Bukola, was present with legal representation. The prosecution opposed the defence’s objections, arguing that the trial had already begun in October 2025 with the calling of its first witness, and that Giwa’s submissions were without merit.
Next Steps
The court’s decision to strike out the motions clears the way for the trial to proceed on its merits. The matter has now been set for further hearing later this week, continuing the prosecution’s case and defence responses.