FG to Arraign Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in Abuja Over Alleged London Property Fraud
Barring any unforeseen developments, the Federal Government will on Monday, January 26, 2026, arraign Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on allegations of fraud relating to a property in London, United Kingdom.
According to a hearing notice sighted midweek, the matter has been slated for Courtroom 4. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the plaintiff, while Chief Ozekhome is listed as the sole defendant.
The prosecution will be conducted by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the High-Profile Prosecution Department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The notice further indicates that the case will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for the scheduled date. It also stipulates that any application for adjournment must be promptly filed with supporting evidence, while parties intending to compel witness attendance must give reasonable notice.
The charge, filed by the ICPC on January 16, 2026, contains three counts:
Count One: Alleging that in August 2021, in London, Ozekhome unlawfully received House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, purportedly transferred to him by one Mr. Shani Tali, in violation of Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two: Alleging that, while acting as a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ozekhome fabricated a false Nigerian passport (No. A07535463) in Mr. Tali’s name to support a fraudulent ownership claim, contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, Laws of the FCT, Abuja.
Count Three: Alleging that Ozekhome dishonestly relied on the same forged passport to substantiate ownership of the property, contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
The case originated from a petition submitted to the ICPC by Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA). The petition referenced a judgment of a British court, which accused Ozekhome and others of colluding with corrupt Nigerian officials to procure fraudulent identity documents in order to claim ownership of the London property.
Following the British tribunal’s findings, the ICPC commenced investigations, which culminated in the present charges against the Senior Advocate.
