The Federal Government has filed a three-count criminal charge against renowned legal practitioner, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over alleged forgery and use of false documents linked to a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation by prosecutors from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the charge sheet, Ozekhome is accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport allegedly bearing the name Shani Tali, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The Federal Government alleged that the offences—bordering on giving false information, forgery, and use of forged documents—were committed in August 2021 within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory.
Prosecutors claim Ozekhome falsely represented that the London property was gifted to him by one Mr Shani Tali, and that he created and used a forged Nigerian passport to advance the claim, actions said to contravene provisions of the ICPC Act and the Penal Code of the FCT.
The government listed several witnesses for the trial, including ICPC investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
Documents to be tendered include the judgment of the UK tribunal, extra-judicial statements, official correspondence, and passport records.
The case is yet to be assigned a hearing date.
The criminal charge stems from a property dispute heard by the UK First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), in which ownership of the London property was contested between Ozekhome and persons identified as Mr and Ms Tali Shani.
The tribunal ultimately ruled that neither individual existed and held that the true owner, operating under a false identity, was the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni.
