FG slams fresh 12-count charge on Ozekhome over alleged forged passport

THE Nigerian government has again filed a 12-count charge on Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Mike Ozekhome, accusing him of involvement in the use of a falsified Nigerian passport in a contentious property battle in the United Kingdom.

The case was filed on Tuesday before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. Son of the late Jeremiah Useni and former FCT minister, Ponfa Useni, is listed as a co-defendant. Court documents identify Ponfa with the alias ‘Tali Shani.’

The latest action follows the earlier withdrawal of similar charges. A previous case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had been struck out after the attorney-general of the federation assumed control of the prosecution and discontinued it. The ICPC had initially filed a three-count forgery charge on January 16, before the AGF’s office stepped in on January 26.

READ ALSO: Prominent lawyer Ozekhome faces ICPC charges over London real estate

During earlier proceedings, counsel representing the AGF, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, assured the court that the matter would be handled diligently and in strict observance of due process.

Allegations outlined

In the fresh charge sheet, the government alleged that between May 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome, Ponfa and the late Useni procured Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 in the name ‘Tali Shani,’ which they allegedly presented as a genuine travel document issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service. Prosecutors claim the passport was created to bolster a claim over a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, UK.

The offence is said to violate provisions of the Penal Code Law, 2009. One of the counts accuses the trio of conspiring in 2022 within Abuja to treat the passport as authentic in pursuit of ownership rights over the London property, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

Another count alleges that between 2023 and 2025, they knowingly used the same document as genuine, an act classified as forgery under Section 366 of the law.

Ponfa Useni is separately accused of impersonating a fictitious individual, ‘Tali Shani,’ around May 30, 2020, and executing a power of attorney under that assumed name. Prosecutors say this amounts to impersonation under Section 179 of the Penal Code.

Mr Ozekhome, for his part, is alleged to have aided the impersonation by participating in the execution of an irrevocable power of attorney dated May 30, 2020, said to have been used to advance the property claim. The charge cites Sections 83 and 84 of the Penal Code, with penalties referenced under Section 179.

In addition, Ponfa faces a count of cheating by personation for allegedly presenting himself as ‘Tali Shani’ while executing the same Power of Attorney with Ozekhome, contrary to Sections 321 and 322 of the law.

How the dispute began

The charges arise from an ownership tussle over 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The dispute was earlier heard by the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in a land registration case marked REF/2023/0155. In that proceeding, ‘Tali Shani’ appeared as the applicant, while Mr Ozekhome was listed as respondent.

READ ALSO: AGF Fagbemi drops forgery case against Ozekhome

Mr Ozekhome had maintained that the property was gifted to him in 2021 by ‘Mr Tali Shani.’ Conversely, legal representatives for ‘Ms Tali Shani’ argued that she was the lawful owner.

At the tribunal, a witness who identified himself as ‘Mr Tali Shani’ testified in support of Mr Ozekhome, claiming longstanding ownership dating back to 1993. He said he later appointed Useni as property manager, describing him as a trusted associate and business partner.

On the other side, witnesses for ‘Ms Tali Shani’ submitted documents including an obituary notice, NIN card, ECOWAS passport and contact records in an attempt to prove her identity and title.

In its decision, the tribunal rejected the documentation presented for ‘Ms Tali Shani,’ declaring them fraudulent. It dismissed the competing claims and ruled that neither ‘Mr’ nor ‘Ms’ Tali Shani existed, concluding that the real owner operating behind the alias was Useni.