Respected legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, has formally distanced himself from the ongoing criminal prosecution of Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, by the police over alleged forgery and impersonation.
Victor Giwa had in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, dated 23rd May, 2025, asked the IGP to probe the allegation of financial inducement to charge him to court.
Specifically, Giwa called on the mrEgbetokun, 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 Asbe Waziri, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
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 Mr. 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 unauthorized use of his firm’s name and letterhead. His statement suggests there was no formal accusation from the primary party whose identity was allegedly misused.
Legal analysts now question the legitimacy—and potential ulterior motives—of the police’s decision to file such a sensitive criminal case without consulting or securing a complaint from the alleged “victim.”
Victor Giwa has maintained his innocence, insisting that the letter in question was issued within the bounds of a legitimate legal relationship and did not involve any act of deception or forgery.
A lawyer and a member of Nigerian Bar Association Garki branch member who spoke to BarristerNG on the condition of anonymity wondered why the Police will charge a defendant to Court without a Petition or official complaint from a complainant.
“Given the absence of a petition from Awa Kalu SAN and his clear disapproval of the police’s criminal framing, one wonders who will benefit from these charges, and why now?”…. he said.
Last week, Barrister Giwa wrote to the IGP, seeking his intervention to unravel the connection between Asabe Waziri and CP Legal, the withdrawal of the charge against him and re-investigation of charge no: CR/150/25 between IGP v. Victor Giwa and another
According to him, he is being charged to court for standing against falsehood and lies and insisting that the right thing should be done.
Parts of the letter read, “I write to report the various illegal and unlawful activities carried out against me by CP CHIOZOBA OYAKHIRE EHIEDE and Asabe Waziri
“Asabe Waziri who is a senior management staff of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been boasting about how she use the police to deal with me, by charging me with various offences , to deter me
from opposing his Illegal and unlawful action against me and my client Cecil Osakwe.
“The CP Legal knowingly, gave unlawful advisory to the IGP in aid of ASABE WAZIRI and caused officers of the Nigeria police force led by Csp Maga, to FORCEFULLY BREAK INTO AN APARTMENT destroying doors and forcefully putting ASABE WAZIRI in possession of a the flats situated at NO 1 Mekong close Maitama, Abuja.
“This was done on the June 26th 2024, while there was pending application for STAY OF EXECUTION, Notice of Appeal with Appeal NO: CA/ABJ/CV/246/2022 to the Court of Appeal and positive Order of Court in High Court Keffi , Nasarawa State in Suit no: NSD/K70F /2024, served on Asabe Waziri and the Police.
“In a reckless manner, I was arrested as the lawyer to Cecil Osakwe and the Abeh Signature Apartment forcefully taken to the apartment and made to open the flats. I insisted that I will not be able to do that, since that matter is subject of litigation in both the Supreme Court and the High Court.
“However, at the instance and advice of CP Legal, the police officers break the doors of the flats and put Asabe Waziri in possession. Asabe Waziri has remained in the flats till date.
“The CP legal, knowing that I will insist on the lawful action, conspired with Asabe Waziri to fetch and fish out different cases against me to set me up with the aim of raising charges against me.
“The CP Legal is using his office, to raise charges agaitist me with the intention of silencing me from speaking out against his illegal and unlawful despicable action , that puts the imtage of the Nigerian police into disrepute, just to favour Asabe Waziti. As at today, the CP has filed charges against me at the instance of Asabe Waziri’s petition.
“The Charge with Charge NO: CR/150/25 filed at the FCT High Court is aimed at embarrassing and harassing me to satisfy the boasting and the yearnings of Asabe Waziri .
“I humbly submit, that the current charge against me in Charge NO:CR/150/25 is baseless, frivolous and vindictive. It is self-serving and is borne out of Asabe Waztri’s quest to use the CP legal to “deal with me”.
