An FCT Excessive Courtroom sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday granted an additional adjournment within the ongoing trial of Abuja-based lawyer Victor Giwa and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, over alleged forgery and impersonation, regardless of sturdy opposition from the prosecution.

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The newest adjournment marks the seventh event on which the primary defendant, Giwa, has sought to delay proceedings for the reason that trial commenced, and the fourth time he has modified his authorized illustration.

Giwa and Bukola are standing trial for allegedly forging official paperwork and impersonating a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Awa Kalu, with the purported purpose of deceptive the Workplace of the Lawyer-Common of the Federation (AGF) into withdrawing an earlier prison cost towards Giwa.

On the resumed listening to, prosecution counsel T. Y. Silas appeared for the Inspector-Common of Police, whereas Ogbu Aboje represented the second defendant. Levi E. Nwoye held a watching temporary for the complainant.
The primary defendant was represented by Farook Akabi of the legislation agency of Ahmed Raji, SAN.

Addressing the courtroom, Silas knowledgeable the decide that the matter was fastened for the listening to of the prosecution’s movement and urged the courtroom to permit him to proceed.

Nonetheless, Akabi instructed the courtroom that his agency had been briefed solely the day past, explaining that Ahmed Raji, SAN, had supposed to personally deal with the case however was unavailable as a result of one other engagement.
He subsequently utilized for an adjournment to permit correct preparation of the defence.

The applying was vehemently opposed by the prosecution.
“That is the seventh date the primary defendant is in search of adjournment to stop this movement from being heard,” Silas instructed the courtroom. “Additionally it is the fourth time he’s altering counsel strictly to delay this trial.”

Silas additional argued that the primary defendant was absolutely conscious of the listening to date and had beforehand knowledgeable the courtroom that he was match and able to conduct his defence.
He added that every one needed processes had been exchanged, with the final submitting accomplished on December 1, 2025.

Counting on Part 396(4) of the Administration of Felony Justice Act (ACJA), 2018, and Part 36(4) of the 1999 Structure (as amended), Silas contended that the defendant had exhausted the statutory limits for adjournments.
“The primary defendant has grow to be an impediment to a good trial inside an affordable time,” he mentioned.

He additionally cited Supreme Courtroom choices in Etsako West LGA v. Christopher and Tiput v. Dawankat, arguing that litigation should not be allowed to proceed endlessly.

Responding, counsel for the second defendant, Ogbu Aboje, urged the courtroom to be guided by its information however appealed for restraint.
He disclosed that he had personally contacted Ahmed Raji, SAN, who confirmed that he had been briefed only a day earlier and supposed to take over the case.

Aboje additionally knowledgeable the courtroom of a pending software by the primary defendant in search of to relist an earlier movement that had been struck out, urging the courtroom to listen to it within the curiosity of justice. He added that the second defendant didn’t oppose a brief adjournment.

In his ruling, the trial decide expressed concern over what he described as a constant sample of delay by the primary defendant.
“Every time the primary defendant seems, he adopts a storyline to stop the matter from continuing,” the decide mentioned, including that “the courtroom works with proof, not theatrics.”

The courtroom famous that Giwa had, at numerous occasions, represented himself and had appeared with three completely different Senior Advocates of Nigeria and over 30 completely different counsel for the reason that trial started.

The decide additionally recalled earlier warnings towards delay techniques and referenced a earlier declare by the primary defendant that he had petitioned the Chief Decide and the Nationwide Judicial Council (NJC).

Based on the courtroom, the NJC had since responded, informing Giwa that his petition couldn’t cease the trial and that case task remained on the discretion of the Chief Decide.

Though acknowledging the repeated delays, the courtroom held that “within the curiosity of justice,” the matter can be adjourned.
The case was consequently adjourned to February 4 for the continuation of the listening to.