Police arrest Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer over alleged forgery, impersonation
An Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, whose bench warrant was issued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo earlier last week, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos.
Giwa has represented embattled Senator Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan in her cases against the senate and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie had on Monday last week issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Giwa and another lawyer, Ibitade Bukola.
The warrant was issued after they failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on forgery and impersonation charge.
The police said that Giwa was picked up in Lagos on Friday and is currently being held at the Zone II Police Headquarters.
He is expected to be transferred to Abuja on Monday, in compliance with the bench warrant.
In the charge, marked: CR/150/25, filed by the Inspector General of Police, Giwa and Bukola were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), with intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
According to the prosecution, the offence was committed on June 28, 2024.
The prosecution alleged that Giwa and Bukola forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment,
Reacting, the defence counsel drew the attention of the court to the explanations of the defendants about their medical issues.
The defence pleaded on their behalf on the matter as they had out of respect for the court deemed it necessary to notify it.
Ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie said having listened to both counsel, he has observed that the medical report did not say the 1st defendant would be unable to attend court, while the 2nd defendant did not even produce any document at all.
He said that as a result of the foregoing, a bench warrant has been issued according to Section 352 of ACJA against the defendants to compel their appearance at the next adjourned date of October 8
Bukola is also expected to be arrested with the duo expected to appear before Justice Onwuegbuzie to answer the charges preferred against them.
Recall, Giwa has earlier accused Akpabio of vendetta against the embattled senator.
Giwa said Akpabio was using his office to punish the senator representing Kogi Central, during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday, September 9.
The senate had earlier rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s request to return to legislative duties at the expiration of 6-month suspension.
In a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the senate acknowledged receiving the notice that she planned to resume on September 4, 2025, which she said marked the end of her suspension.
But responding to the recent development, Giwa described Natasha’s situation as double jeopardy, saying it is like asking an inmate to serve once more after completing his jail term.
Giwa said, “This is a kind of witchcraft logic the senate is putting forward. It doesn’t make sense. Even law student will know better.
“The institution of the senate to be dessicated in this manner for Akpabio to use the office of the Senate president to pursue what is now a personal vendetta.
“It brings a question to whether really there is veracity in what Natasha said. Why Akpabio will not allow time and history to vindicate him? After this woman has served her punishment, you are still saying she can’t resume her function.”
