The federal government has filed criminal charges against Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over alleged forgery and the use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom, marking a dramatic escalation in a long-running legal controversy.
The three charges, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, were filed on Friday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The prosecution is being led by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the ICPC’s high-profile prosecution department, alongside Ngozi Onwuka, an assistant chief legal officer.
According to the charge sheet, Ozekhome is accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support a claim of ownership over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal. Prosecutors allege that the acts were committed in August 2021, partly in London and partly in Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.
In count one, the federal government alleges that Ozekhome directly received the London property, purportedly given to him by one Mr Shani Tali, an act prosecutors say he knew constituted a felony. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count two accuses the senior lawyer of making a false document, namely a Nigerian passport bearing the name of Shani Tali, with the intent to use it to fraudulently support his ownership claim over the London property. The charge alleges a violation of Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code applicable in the FCT.
A third count borders on the use of forged documents and attempting to deceive a public authority, according to court filings, though full details are expected to be ventilated during trial.
The federal government has listed several witnesses it intends to call, including ICPC investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Among the documents to be tendered as exhibits are the judgment of the London First-Tier Tribunal, extra-judicial statements, correspondence from relevant authorities, and passport and immigration records relating to Shani Tali. No trial date has yet been fixed.
The charges stem from a contentious property dispute involving Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general and former minister who is now deceased. In its ruling, the London First-Tier Tribunal held that the true owner of the property was Useni, who allegedly operated through a false identity.
The case is expected to draw significant public and legal attention, given Ozekhome’s status as one of Nigeria’s most prominent senior advocates and the cross-border nature of the alleged offences.
