The office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) has assumed control of the prosecution of Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who is facing allegations of forgery and the use of falsified documents in a contentious property dispute in the United Kingdom.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had earlier filed a three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, against Ozekhome on January 16.
He was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court sitting in Maitama.
However, when the matter was mentioned, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the AGF had decided to take over the prosecution.
He stated that the case would be handled with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”, adding that the AGF required time to thoroughly review the case file.
Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the ICPC, raised no objection to the development.
Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to February 24 for the defendant’s arraignment.
Ozekhome is accused of knowingly submitting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred in August 2021 in the Maitama area of Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court.
BACKGROUND
The disputed property case involved Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.
The matter was filed before the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
Ownership of the property was contested between one ‘Ms Tali Shani’ and Ozekhome.
Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while legal representatives of ‘Ms Shani’ argued that she was the legitimate owner.
A witness identified as ‘Mr Tali Shani’ testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming he held “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred it to the respondent.
He further claimed ownership of the property since 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner”.
In contrast, witnesses for Ms Tali Shani presented several documents, including an obituary notice, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number and others, to substantiate her claim.
However, the tribunal ruled that all documents submitted on behalf of Ms Tali Shani were fake.
The tribunal ultimately dismissed all claims, declaring that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
It ruled that the actual owner of the property, operating under a false identity, was Useni.