The Federal Government has filed a fresh 12-count charge against prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome over his alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently claim ownership of a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The charge, entered before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, accuses Ozekhome of forgery and abetment of offences linked to the alleged use of falsified documents.
According to the charge, the senior advocate allegedly conspired in 2020 with one Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani) and the late Jeremiah Useni to create and use a false Nigerian International Passport bearing the name Tali Shani.
The government alleged that the forged passport, purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, was intended to support a claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.
Prosecutors further alleged that Ozekhome abetted cheating by personation through the execution of an irrevocable power of attorney dated May 30, 2020, with a purported individual identified as Tali Shani, described in the charge as a fictitious person.
Count 9 of the charge accused him of taking control of the UK property, said to have been unlawfully obtained under the fictitious identity, while Count 10 alleged that he collected £18,000 in rent from the property.
The charge was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo.
The development came hours after Justice Peter Kekemeke struck out a separate three-count charge earlier filed against Ozekhome by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The charge was withdrawn by the Attorney-General of the Federation on Tuesday.
No date has yet been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.
What You Should Know
The fresh charge marks a new legal challenge for Mike Ozekhome, coming shortly after the withdrawal of an earlier case by the ICPC.
The Federal Government’s allegations centre on forgery, personation, and the use of allegedly falsified immigration documents to support a property claim in the United Kingdom.
If proven, the offences cited under the Penal Code Law 2009 carry significant penalties, including imprisonment. However, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The case is expected to draw significant public and legal attention given Ozekhome’s prominence in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.
