The Federal Government has filed a criminal case against Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over allegations that he used forged documents in a property dispute in the United Kingdom.
Naijaonpoint reports that the three-count charge was filed at a federal high court in Abuja on Friday.
It was submitted by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of high-profile prosecutions at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside Ngozi Onwuka, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Ozekhome is accused of presenting a falsified Nigerian passport and other documents to support his claim to a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The alleged offences reportedly occurred in August 2021 in Abuja’s Maitama district, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.
The three counts of the charge relate to giving false information, using forged documents, and attempting to mislead a public authority.
The federal government plans to call investigators and a representative from the Nigerian Immigration Service as witnesses.
Evidence expected in court includes tribunal judgments, statements, official letters, and passport records. The trial date has not yet been set.
The dispute centres on the London property, which involved Ozekhome and the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni.
The case was filed at the UK First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) under case number REF/2023/0155, with Shani Tali as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
Ozekhome claimed the property was gifted to him by Shani Tali in 2021. Meanwhile, Tali’s representatives insisted she was the rightful owner.
During the tribunal proceedings, a witness identified as Tali Shani supported Ozekhome, stating that he held authority over the property and had transferred it to him.
Evidence presented by Shani Tali’s team, including national identification and passport documents, was declared false by the tribunal.
The court ultimately dismissed all claims under the Tali Shani name and recognised Useni as the real owner of the property.