FG files criminal charge against Ozekhome over alleged forgery in UK property case

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 linked to a disputed property in the United Kingdom.

The three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. It was instituted 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), alongside Ngozi Onwuka, an assistant chief legal officer.

Ozekhome is accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, during proceedings before the London First-tier Tribunal to support a claim of ownership of a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. Prosecutors allege that the offences were committed in August 2021, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.

According to the charge sheet, the counts relate to giving false information, making and using forged documents, and attempting to deceive a public authority.

Under count one, the prosecution alleges that Ozekhome directly received the London property as a gift from one Shani Tali, an act it claims he knew amounted to a felony, contrary to sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count two accuses him of making a false Nigerian passport bearing the name of Shani Tali, with the intent to use it to support the property claim, an offence said to be contrary to sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code applicable in the FCT.

In count three, Ozekhome is alleged to have dishonestly used the same passport as a genuine document despite knowing or having reason to believe it was false, contrary to sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code.

The federal government plans to call several witnesses at trial, including investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service. Documents listed as exhibits include the judgment of the London First-tier Tribunal, extra-judicial statements, correspondence from relevant authorities, and passport records linked to Shani Tali.

No trial date has been fixed.

Background

The charges stem from a long-running dispute over the ownership of the London property at 79 Randall Avenue.

The matter was heard by the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent. The late Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general, was also named in the dispute.

Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from a man identified as “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021. Lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” challenged the claim, insisting she was the rightful owner.

A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming ownership of the property since 1993 and stating that he later appointed Useni as his property manager. He also told the tribunal that he transferred the property to Ozekhome.

In response, documents including an obituary notice, NIN card, ECOWAS passport and other records were tendered by witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani.” The tribunal, however, ruled that all documents presented in support of her claim were fake.

In its final decision, the tribunal dismissed all competing claims, holding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed and that the true owner of the property, operating under a false name, was Jeremiah Useni.