FG Slams Forgery Charges Against Ozekhome, SAN Over London Property Dispute
The Federal Government has filed a three‑count criminal charge against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alleging forgery and use of false documents in connection with a contested property in London.
The prosecution is led by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the High Profile Prosecution Department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, together with Ngozi Onwuka, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Ozekhome is accused of presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, before the London First‑tier Tribunal in support of his claim to ownership of 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The alleged offences are said to have been 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, attempting to deceive a public authority.
Count One: Receiving the London property as a purported gift from one Shani Tali, an act alleged to constitute a felony under Sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two: Fabricating a false Nigerian passport in the name of Shani Tali, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code (FCT).
Count Three: Dishonestly using the said passport as genuine, despite knowledge or reasonable belief of its falsity, contrary to Sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code.
The Federal Government intends to call multiple witnesses, including investigators and officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service. Exhibits listed include the judgment of the London First‑tier Tribunal, extra‑judicial statements, official correspondence from relevant authorities, and passport records linked to Shani Tali.
No trial date has yet been fixed.
The charges arise from a protracted dispute over ownership of the London property. The matter was previously heard before the UK First‑tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent. The late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd.) was also implicated in the proceedings.
Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021. Counsel for “Ms Tali Shani” contested this, asserting her ownership rights.
A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in Ozekhome’s favour, claiming ownership since 1993 and stating that he had appointed Useni as property manager before transferring the property to Ozekhome.
In rebuttal, “Ms Tali Shani’s” representatives tendered documents including an obituary notice, NIN card, and ECOWAS passport. The tribunal, however, found these documents to be fraudulent.
In its final ruling, the tribunal dismissed all competing claims, holding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed. It concluded that the true owner of the property, operating under a false identity, was Jeremiah Useni.
