Mike Ozekhome In EFCC Custody As Senior Lawyer Faces Fresh Charges Over Alleged London Property Fraud

Mike Ozekhome In EFCC Custody As Senior Lawyer Faces Fresh Charges Over Alleged London Property Fraud

This development comes after his recent arraignment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court over alleged fraud connected to a property in London, United Kingdom.

Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) and is set to face fresh charges.

This development comes after his recent arraignment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court over alleged fraud connected to a property in London, United Kingdom.

However, the case was dismissed earlier on Tuesday after the Federal Government filed an application to withdraw the suit.

“Ozekhome is in EFCC detention and is set to face fresh charges,” a top intelligence source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama had struck out a three-count forgery charge filed against Ozekhome by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The charge, filed on January 16, bordered on allegations that Ozekhome forged documents in relation to a property dispute in the U.K.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, took over the prosecution of the case on January 26.

The criminal case, filed under Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/010/26, was instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Ozekhome, aged 68.

Before the withdrawal of the suit, the SAN faced three counts bordering on the alleged receipt of property abroad, forgery, and fraudulent use of false documents.

Count One alleged that in August 2021, while outside Nigeria in London, Ozekhome received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, allegedly given to him by one Mr. Shani Tali. Prosecutors claimed the act constituted a felony under Section 13, punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count Two accused Ozekhome of making a false document in Abuja during the same period, allegedly forging a Nigerian passport numbered A07535463 in the name of Shani Tali, with the intent to support a claim of ownership over the London property.

The offence was said to contravene Section 363, punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, CAP 532, Laws of the FCT, Abuja, 2006.

Count Three alleged that the defendant dishonestly used the falsified passport as a genuine document to substantiate ownership claims over the property, despite knowing it to be false, an offence under Section 366, punishable under Section 364 of the same Penal Code.

The charge sheet was signed on January 16, 2026, by Dr. Akponimisingha and Ngozi Onwuka, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC headquarters, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.

At a previous sitting, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel for the AGF, told the court that the matter would be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.

When the case came up on Tuesday for arraignment, Oyedepo instead moved an application seeking to withdraw the charge.

He informed the court that the office of the AGF required time to review and consolidate issues cutting across different investigating agencies, adding that this would help strengthen the case.

Following the application, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, struck out the suit.

The arraignment followed a dramatic ruling by the UK’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in September 2025, which held that the disputed London property belonged to the estate of the late General Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator, and senior military officer.

The dispute over the property involved Ozekhome and Useni. The matter was filed in the UK under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent.

The property, purchased in 1993 and registered under the name “Tali Shani,” became the subject of prolonged litigation after questions arose over the true identity of the registered owner.

In a ruling delivered by Judge Ewan Paton, the tribunal dismissed claims by Ozekhome and individuals presenting themselves as “Mr.” and “Ms. Tali Shani,” describing them as impostors with no legitimate claim to the property.

Ozekhome was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, 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 alleged offences were said to have been committed in August 2021 in the Maitama area of Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court.

The property was claimed by ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other. Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while lawyers for ‘Ms Shani’ insisted she was the rightful owner.

At the tribunal, ‘Mr Tali Shani’ testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent. He asserted ownership from 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner”.

However, witnesses for Ms Tali Shani tendered several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport and phone number, to establish ownership.

The tribunal found the documents to be fake and dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed, and held that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.

According to the tribunal, General Useni had used the false name “Tali Shani” to conceal offshore assets. It concluded that he was the true beneficial owner of the property.

“I find that a large number of documents in this case have been produced or procured by forgery or deception,” Judge Paton ruled, citing fake identity documents, fraudulent witness statements, forged medical letters, and fabricated burial notices.

“The real owner, via a false name, was General Jeremiah Useni,” the tribunal concluded.