Ozekhome
Picnews
The Federal Government has filed a fresh 12-count charge against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, over allegations of using a forged Nigerian passport in a protracted property dispute in the United Kingdom. The charges, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, include conspiracy, forgery, personation, and cheating by personation under the Penal Code Law 2009.
Ozekhome is accused of making a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purporting it to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support his claim to a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom. Ponfa Useni, son of the late former Minister of the FCT, General Jeremiah Useni, is also named as a defendant in the case.
The charges allege that Ozekhome and Useni conspired to commit the offences between 2010 and 2011, and that Ozekhome forged the passport with the intention of using it to deceive. The prosecution claims that Ozekhome’s actions were aimed at gaining unlawful advantage in the property dispute.
This development comes after an earlier charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was withdrawn and struck out by the court. The new charge suggests that the Federal Government is pursuing the case with renewed vigor .
Ozekhome, a prominent lawyer, has represented high-profile clients, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 15 opposition governors in the 2023 presidential election petition. The allegations have sparked reactions from his colleagues and the public.
The case has been assigned to Justice Ibrahim Kazaure, and the defendants are expected to be arraigned soon. Ozekhome’s defence team is likely to challenge the charges, given his reputation as a seasoned litigator.
The property dispute involves a complex web of ownership claims, with Ozekhome allegedly using the forged passport to support his position. The outcome of the case is being closely watched, given the high stakes involved .
