FG files criminal charge against Ozekhome over alleged forgery in UK property case

The federal government has filed criminal charges against Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, over alleged forgery and use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.

The three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The prosecution was instituted by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the high-profile prosecution department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, alongside Ngozi Onwuka, an assistant chief legal officer, on behalf of the attorney general of the federation.

Ozekhome is accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-tier Tribunal.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed in August 2021 in the Maitama area of Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The counts border on giving false information, using forged documents, and attempting to deceive a public authority.

In count one, the prosecution alleges that Ozekhome directly received the London property as a gift from one Shani Tali, an act it claims he knew constituted a felony, contrary to sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count two alleges that Ozekhome, while acting as a legal practitioner and SAN, made a false document, namely a Nigerian passport bearing the name of Shani Tali, with the intent to use it to support a fraudulent claim of ownership of the property. This offence is said to be contrary to sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code applicable in the FCT.

In count three, he is accused of dishonestly using the same passport as genuine, despite allegedly knowing it was false, an offence under sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code.

The federal government listed several witnesses it intends to call, including investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service. Documents to be tendered include the judgment of the London First-tier Tribunal, extra-judicial statements, official correspondence, and passport data relating to Shani Tali.

No trial date has been fixed.

**Background**

The charges stem from a long-running dispute over the ownership of the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London. Parties to the case included Ozekhome and the late Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant general.

The matter was heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration in the UK under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

Ozekhome had claimed he received the property as a gift from a person identified as Mr Tali Shani in 2021, while lawyers representing a claimant identified as Ms Tali Shani insisted she was the rightful owner.

During the proceedings, a witness presented as Mr Tali Shani testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming ownership of the property since 1993 and stating that he had transferred it to Ozekhome. He also described Useni as an elder friend and business partner who managed the property on his behalf.

However, documents tendered by witnesses for Ms Tali Shani, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, and phone records, were found by the tribunal to be fake.

In its ruling, the tribunal dismissed all claims, holding that neither Mr nor Ms Tali Shani existed. It concluded that the property was owned by Useni, who had used a false identity.