Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally filed criminal charges against Chief Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over allegations involving fraud, forgery and the use of falsified documents in connection with a disputed London property once linked to the estate of the late Lieutenant‑General Jeremiah Timbut Useni. The case was instituted on January 16, 2026, at the Federal High Court, FCT, Abuja, under charge number FCT/HC/CR/010/26, marking a significant escalation in legal scrutiny of one of Nigeria’s most prominent legal figures.
According to the charge sheet, filed on behalf of the Attorney‑General of the Federation by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the High Profile Prosecution Department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Ngozi Onwuka, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, Ozekhome faces three criminal counts alleging offences arising from his conduct in relation to the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Count One accuses Ozekhome, aged 68 and residing in Abuja’s Maitama district, of knowingly receiving the London property in August 2021 as a purported gift from an individual identified as Mr. Shani Tali, an act prosecutors assert constituted a felony under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two charges Ozekhome with making a false document — specifically, a Nigerian international passport (No. A07535463) issued in the name of Mr. Shani Tali — with the intent to use it to support his claim of ownership over the London property. According to the prosecution, this conduct violates Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code, CAP 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006.
Count Three alleges that Ozekhome dishonestly used the falsified passport as though it were genuine to substantiate his property claim despite having reason to believe the document was false, an offence also punishable under the relevant provisions of the FCT Penal Code.
Prosecutors have listed a range of witnesses intended for the government’s case, including investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, as well as documentary evidence such as the judgment of the UK First‑Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), extra‑judicial statements, official letters and passport data tied to Mr. Shani Tali.
The charges stem from a long‑running and highly complex property dispute that attracted international attention. In September 2025, the UK tribunal ruled on the case, originally filed in London by parties claiming ownership of the North West London house, and found that neither of the individuals presented as owners — including those associated with Ozekhome’s claim — were legitimate. Instead, the tribunal concluded that the property was acquired by the late General Useni in 1993, albeit under an alias, and rejected Ozekhome’s bid to register ownership.
The dispute, characterised by the Tribunal as a complex web of alleged fraud, impersonation and forged identities, prompted Nigerian anti‑graft agencies to scrutinise the conduct of those involved. A petition by civil society and the damning findings in the UK proceedings triggered investigations by the ICPC and drew public comments from Nigeria’s Attorney‑General and Minister of Justice, which emphasised the need for accountability among senior legal practitioners implicated in the controversy.
Legal experts say the case represents a rare and serious instance of criminal prosecution against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria over allegations tied to international property disputes and forged evidence. Ozekhome, a respected and long‑standing figure in Nigeria’s legal community, is yet to publicly respond to the charges. As of now, no date has been set for the commencement of his trial.
Observers note that the charges come amid broader concerns about governance, the integrity of legal processes and the enforcement of anti‑corruption laws in Nigeria. The intersection of international property law, domestic anti‑graft enforcement and high‑profile legal personalities underscores the evolving landscape of accountability and rule of law scrutiny in the country’s judicial and regulatory environment.
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