By Paul Joseph
A High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has struck out a forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome. The decision followed an application to withdraw the case by the prosecuting authority.
The case was first instituted on January 16 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), based on allegations of forgery.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which later took over the prosecution, applied to withdraw the charge at the resumed hearing. Counsel to the AGF, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that more time was required to review and consolidate issues involving multiple investigating agencies.
Following the withdrawal application, Justice Peter Kekemeke struck out the suit, effectively removing the forgery charge from the court’s docket for now.
Ozekhome was accused of presenting forged documents including a Nigerian international passport to support his ownership claim to a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The documents were allegedly used in proceedings before the UK First Tier Tribunal during a property dispute.
The case stemmed from a disagreement between Ozekhome and an individual identified as Tali Shani. Ozekhome claimed the London property was gifted to him in 2021 by Mr. Tali Shani. However, lawyers representing Ms. Tali Shani maintained that she was the lawful owner.
During proceedings abroad, both parties presented separate documents to back their claims.
The tribunal reportedly ruled that neither Mr. nor Ms. Tali Shani existed. It further held that the actual owner of the property who had used a false identity was the late retired Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni.
Although the charge has been struck out, the Attorney General’s office indicated that the case may still be reviewed and possibly strengthened in the future.
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