Nigerian Police Under Fire For Prosecuting Abuja Lawyer For ‘Forgery’ Despite Senior Advocate Debunking Allegation

45Despite the letter of legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Awa Kalu, formally distancing himself from the allegation of forgery and impersonation against Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, the police have gone ahead to press charges against Giwa.

In the charge, the police accused Giwa of forging the letterhead of Kalu, SAN.

Victor Giwa, human rights lawyer, had been detained by the police, reportedly on the orders of the FCT High Court, for evading arraignment in charge CR/150/25 between himself and Inspector General of Police before the court.

A week ago, he was arrested after meeting with the DCP at Zone 2, where another matter was being investigated.

According to one of the sources, OC Legal allegedly told Giwa that his detention was based on a court order.

But the SAN, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, had said his letterhead was never forged and that he had not at anytime lodged any complaint to the police about forgery of his document.

Professor Kalu, in a letter dated May 30, 2025, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, clarified that he neither filed a complaint nor reported Mr. Giwa for allegedly forging his firm’s letterhead.

The letter comes in response to Charge No. CR/150/25 instituted by the police, in which Giwa is accused of forging the official letterhead of “Awa U. Kalu (SAN) & Partners” — formerly “Awa U. Kalu (SAN) & Associates” — to communicate with the Attorney General of the Federation.

Prof. Kalu wrote, “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.

“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.”

The clarification by Prof. Kalu significantly undercuts the foundation of the forgery allegation, which reportedly hinges on the unauthorised use of his firm’s name and letterhead.

His statement meant there was no formal accusation from the primary party whose identity was allegedly misused.

Also, Victor Giwa had in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, dated 23rd May, 2025, asked the IGP to probe the allegation of financial inducement to charge him to court.

Specifically, Giwa called Mr Egbetokun, to investigate the Commissioner of Police, legal services of the Nigeria Police, Chiozoba Oyakhire Ehiede and Ms Asabe Waziri, over allegation of frivolous xharge filed against him and one other.

He called on the IGP to probe the connection between the CP, Legal Services of the Nigeria Police and Asabe Waziri, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Lagos, SP Umma Ayuba, had confirmed his arrest.

“He is at the Zone presently for an interview with the said team,” she had said, when contacted.