ABUJA, NIGERIA – In a development that has sent ripples through the Nigerian legal community, the Federal Government has officially initiated criminal proceedings against prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome.
The charges, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), center on allegations of forgery, the use of false documents, and a deceptive attempt to claim ownership of a high-value property located in the United Kingdom.
The prosecution is being spearheaded by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to court documents, the three-count charge was filed on Friday by the ICPC’s Head of High Profile Prosecution Department, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, and Assistant Chief Legal Officer, Ngozi Onwuka.
The action was taken on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The 68-year-old legal luminary stands accused of knowingly presenting forged documents to support his claim of ownership regarding a property situated at 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The prosecution alleged that these documents, which included a falsified Nigerian passport, were presented during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
The charge sheet pointed out that the alleged offences were committed around August 2021 within the Maitama District of Abuja, bringing the matter under the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.
The counts specifically border on giving false information to public authorities, the fabrication of identity documents, and engaging in transactions that constitute a felony under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The specific counts against Chief Ozekhome paint a picture of a complex cross-border property dispute that took a criminal turn:
Count one alleged that Ozekhome, while at a location outside Nigeria (London), directly received the property at 79, Randall Avenue, with the ICPC contending that the property was purportedly gifted to him by one Mr Shani Tali, a transaction the commission asserted constitutes a felony under Section 13 and is punishable under Section 24 of the ICPC Act.
Count two accused the Senior Advocate of making a false document, specifically a Nigerian passport (No. A07535463) in the name of Mr Shani Tali.
The prosecution argued this was done with the express intent to support a fraudulent claim of ownership over the London asset, violating Section 363 of the Penal Code.
Count three charged Ozekhome with dishonestly using the aforementioned passport as a genuine document during legal proceedings, despite having reason to believe the document was a forgery.
The criminal trial in Nigeria is rooted in a bizarre civil dispute adjudicated in the United Kingdom. The case, referenced as REF/2023/0155, featured a tug-of-war between Ozekhome and a party identified as Ms Tali Shani over the Randall Avenue estate.
During the UK proceedings, Ozekhome maintained that he had received the house as a gift from a Mr Tali Shani in 2021.
To bolster this claim, a witness appeared before the tribunal claiming to be Mr Tali Shani, asserting he had owned the property since 1993 and had formerly appointed the late General Jeremiah Useni as his property manager.
Conversely, lawyers for Ms Shani argued she was the rightful owner, presenting an array of evidence, including an obituary, NIN cards, and ECOWAS passports, to prove her identity and claim.
However, the UK First-Tier Tribunal reached a startling conclusion: it ruled that neither Mr Tali Shani nor Ms Tali Shani actually existed.
The tribunal found the documents presented by both sides to be fraudulent, ultimately dismissing all claims and identifying the late Jeremiah Useni as the true owner of the property.
The Federal Government has signalled its intent to prosecute the case vigorously. A comprehensive list of witnesses has been filed, featuring ICPC investigators and high-ranking representatives from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
In addition to oral testimony, the prosecution intends to tender several critical exhibits, including:
* The official judgment from the London First-Tier Tribunal.
* Extra-judicial statements made by the defendant.
* Formal correspondence from relevant international and local authorities.
* Data logs and records relating to the identity of Shani Tali.
As of the time of this report, Chief Mike Ozekhome has not issued an official statement regarding the fresh charges.
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