A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

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The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

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At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

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He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

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In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

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“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

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Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has called on the Nigerian government and all stakeholders to empower Girl-Child in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the country.

Dr Adebisi Osim, the National President of APWEN, made the call in Bauchi on Sunday, during the 2025 APWEN, Bauchi state chapter’s public lectures and inauguration of new executives.

According to her, when a girl child is empowered in STEM, the country would not only be creating an engineer or a scientist, but also creating a problem solver and an innovator who might design drought-resistant crops to solve food insecurity.

Represented Engr. Esther Ago, the North Central Coordinator of APWEN, Osim said that this Girl-Child would develop sustainable water purification systems for the rural communities, build intelligent systems to manage traffic in the growing cities among others.

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“We live in a world shaped by technology. From the smartphones in our hands to the complex infrastructure that powers our cities, STEM is the language of the future.

“To exclude women from this conversation is to silence half of the world’s intellect, creativity, and problem-solving potential. It is to fly a plane with only one wing.

“To our leaders and policymakers, we urge you to continue to champion policies that make STEM education accessible, attractive to girls, invest in laboratories, sponsor scholarships, and celebrate female tech champions,” she said.

“Empowering the girl child in STEM is not a charitable act, it’s a strategic imperative for Nigeria’s technological advancement and economic prosperity. It is the surest path to building a future that is innovative, inclusive, and sustainable,” she said.

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Earlier speaking, Engr. Mercy Asabe, immediate past Chairperson, APWEN Bauchi, said the lectures would provide valuable opportunities for them to engage with important ideas, spark meaningful discussions, and foster a deeper understanding of STEM and Artificial Intelligence.

“I am confident that the insights shared today will inspire, educate and challenge us to think critically on global issues,” she said.

Engr. Jamila Adamu, the newly elected Chairperson, APWEN Bauchi chapter who spoke on behalf of others, said their mission was to inspire and mentor the girl-child to embrace STEM.

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She added that they would show them that engineering was not a field reserved for men alone, but a platform where women could thrive, innovate, and lead.

“Our mission is also to strengthen professional support for women engineers, ensuring that our members have the opportunities, training, and networks to excel in their careers.

“It’s also to collaborate with government, academia, and industry, building partnerships that will break barriers, create opportunities, and drive sustainable development,” she said.

Adamu affirmed that APWEN Bauchi Chapter remained committed to being a catalyst for change, promising to reach schools, engage communities, mentor, empower girls with the confidence to dream, and lead by example.