The Federal Government has discontinued the three-count property fraud charge instituted against Mike Ozekhome (SAN), following a directive by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Ozekhome was arraigned before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, in a prosecution initiated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations bordering on property forgery.
At a previous hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), informed the court that the AGF had taken over the matter from the ICPC and sought an adjournment to enable him review the case file.
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At the resumed sitting, Oyedepo told the court that he had been instructed by the AGF to withdraw the charge pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He explained that the withdrawal formed part of a broader review of pending cases being handled by prosecuting agencies.
Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to Ozekhome, who appeared with a team of senior advocates and other lawyers, did not object to the application.
The court consequently struck out the charge.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/26 and filed on January 16, listed Ozekhome as the sole defendant.
According to the charge sheet, the first count alleged that in or about August 2021, in London, Ozekhome received a property located at 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, allegedly from Mr. Shani Tali, in circumstances said to constitute a felony under Sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
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In the second count, the ICPC accused the senior lawyer of fabricating a Nigerian passport bearing the name Mr Shani Tali, with passport number A07535463, allegedly to support a claim of ownership of the same London property.
The charge was said to contravene Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
The third count alleged that Ozekhome knowingly presented the said passport as genuine to substantiate his ownership claim, an offence the commission said is punishable under Sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
