Federal Government Files Fresh 12-Count Charge Against Ozekhome Over London Property
The Federal Government has initiated a new legal action by filing a fresh 12-count charge against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani. The charges center on allegations of conspiracy, forgery, personation, and unlawful control of a property located in the United Kingdom.
Details of the Charges and Alleged Forgeries
According to the charge filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the defendants are accused of forging a Nigerian International Passport and other supporting documents. These documents were allegedly used to bolster a claim to a property situated at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2. The late General Jeremiah Useni has also been named in several counts as a co-conspirator in this complex case.
The prosecution alleges that in 2020, the defendants conspired in Abuja to forge Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 under the name "Tali Shani." This passport was purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the explicit intention of using it to support their claim to the London property. Counts 1 and 2 detail that the defendants agreed to commit this illegal act by forging the passport and subsequently created the false document between May 30, 2020, and 2021, actions contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 364.
Further Allegations and Specific Counts
Count 3 accuses the defendants of conspiring in 2022 to use the alleged forged passport as genuine, while Count 4 alleges they dishonestly utilized the passport between 2023 and 2025 to facilitate the property claim. Counts 5 and 7 specifically target the late General Useni, accusing him of false personation and cheating by personation. The charge states that on or about May 30, 2020, Useni falsely presented himself as "Tali Shani," described as a fictitious person, and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in that name in connection with the property.
Ozekhome faces accusations in Counts 6 and 8 for abetting personation and cheating by personation. He is alleged to have jointly executed the irrevocable Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, with the purported fictitious individual to advance the property claim. In Count 9, the prosecution alleges that Ozekhome, sometime in 2022 in Abuja, had under his control the London property, which is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained by the late Useni using the fictitious identity.
Count 10 further alleges that Ozekhome had control over the sum of £18,000, said to be part of rent accrued from the property and reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained. Counts 11 and 12 accuse the defendants of conspiring in 2023 to forge a document titled "Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr. Tali Shani," dated May 4, 2023. This document was purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support their claim.
Legal Framework and Prosecution's Position
The offences are said to contravene various provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364, and 366. The charge was formally signed by Oyedepo Iseoluwa Rotimi, SAN, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and A.R. Tahir, Chief State Counsel, acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In an affidavit deposed by a litigation officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the prosecution has stated that investigations have substantially concluded and that a prima facie case has been established against the defendants. This indicates that the government believes there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial.
Current Status and Custody
Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A date for their arraignment is expected to be fixed by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as the legal process moves forward. This case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to address alleged financial crimes and forgeries involving high-profile individuals and international assets.
