Victor Giwa, an Abuja-based lawyer remanded in custody by Justice Jude Onwugbuezie of the FCT High Court, has reportedly granted an interview to one Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis of The Punch newspaper while still being held at the Asokoro Police Station, Abuja.
The revelation has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about custodial discipline and the enforcement of remand orders within the Nigeria Police Force. Observers are questioning how a detainee under Lawful custody and active police supervision could gain access to journalists and make public press statements while in lawful custody without a corresponding order of Court.
In The Punch interview, Giwa allegedly gave a lengthy commentary on ongoing political developments despite being in detention.
Legal analysts and civil society observers have called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently explain how a remanded suspect could grant a media interview from custody, and to clarify where and under what circumstances The Punch reporter met him.
It is a notorious fact; as widely reported in all major and popular news media that the said Victor Giwa ESQ. is standing trial in multiple charges pending different Courts of law for the offense of forgery, impersonation, and also being investigated by the police for alleged office obtaining judgment by fraudulent means and the unlawful eviction of Ms Uche Ibeto (a.k.a the JIGIDA QUEEN) in Surulere Lagos State.
The interview granted by the Punch news Paper journalist amounts to contempt of Court ex facie curie and has the calculated at undermined powers of the Court and to truncate the trial and investigation of the case.
We hope that the editor in Chief of the Punch news paper will take notice and do the needful. The Media should not be used as a tool of image laundry career criminals in the society.
When contacted, one of Giwa’s colleagues at the NBA Garki Branch, where he is a registered member, expressed disbelief at the development. The senior lawyer, who spoke under anonymity, said Giwa appeared in court only yesterday wearing a neck brace and using crutches, adding that his latest actions might be “an attempt to curry sympathy from Senator Natasha’s supporters.”
“This is one of his usual games,” the senior lawyer remarked.
Giwa was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on September 19, 2025, following a bench warrant issued by Justice Jude Onwugbuezie of the FCT High Court. He was subsequently brought before the court in Abuja, which remanded him in police custody pending his arraignment scheduled for October 8, 2025.
Giwa and his co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola, are facing charges of forgery and impersonation. Their initial arraignment on September 15 failed to proceed, prompting the court to issue the bench warrant for their arrest. While Giwa has since been apprehended, efforts to locate and arrest Bukola are still ongoing.
According to court filings, Giwa and Bukola are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued from the chambers of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The contentious letter, dated June 28, 2024, allegedly sought the intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment scheduled before Justice Samira Bature of the FCT High Court, Maitama, on July 2, 2024.