ABUJA – The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has assumed prosecution of a forgery case against prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, related to a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The case, initially filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was scheduled for Ozekhome's arraignment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Monday. However, the AGF’s office intervened, requesting time to review the file and take over the proceedings.
The Charges and Court Proceedings
Ozekhome faces a three-count charge (FCT/HC/CR/010/2026) accusing him of knowingly using forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London, during a UK tribunal hearing in August 2021.
At the hearing, Senior Advocate Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court of the AGF’s decision to take over the case to ensure it is handled “with the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law.” The ICPC’s counsel did not object.
Presiding Judge Peter Kekemeke adjourned the case to February 24, 2026, for the defendant's arraignment under the new prosecution.
Background: A Complex UK Property Dispute
The legal issue originates from a contested ownership claim for the London property. Ozekhome asserted he received the house as a gift from a ‘Mr. Tali Shani’ in 2021. However, another claimant, ‘Ms. Tali Shani,’ through her lawyers, maintained she was the rightful owner.
A UK First-Tier Tribunal examined the conflicting claims. A witness for Ozekhome, ‘Mr. Tali Shani,’ testified that he held Power of Attorney and had transferred the property, stating he had owned it since 1993 and had appointed the late Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni as his property manager.
Conversely, documents presented to support ‘Ms. Tali Shani’s’ claim—including an obituary, a national ID card, and a passport—were found by the tribunal to be fabricated.
Tribunal's Final Ruling
The UK tribunal ultimately dismissed all claims from both ‘Mr.’ and ‘Ms.’ Tali Shani, ruling that neither existed as real persons. The court determined that the actual owner using a false identity was the late General Jeremiah Useni.
The Nigerian charges against Ozekhome stem from the documents he allegedly presented during these UK proceedings. The AGF’s takeover signals the high-profile nature of a case involving a senior legal figure and a complex international property saga.
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