By Opeyemi Adelakun
An Abuja High Court has granted Mike Ozekhome permission to travel to the United Kingdom for six weeks to undergo medical treatment, temporarily releasing his international passport amid his ongoing forgery trial.
Justice Chizoba Oji gave the approval on Thursday after considering an application filed by Ozekhome, who is standing trial alongside Ponfa Useni on allegations bordering on forgery and impersonation.
The defendants were arraigned on February 27 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on a 12-count charge linked to a disputed property ownership case in the United Kingdom.
In her ruling, Justice Oji directed Ozekhome to return his international passport to the court on or before August 26, 2026.
The court had earlier expressed concern that the prosecution failed to deposit the defendants’ passports as required under the bail conditions granted in February. Consequently, the prosecution was ordered to produce the travel documents during Thursday’s proceedings.
After the prosecution complied and Ozekhome identified his passport, the court sought the position of prosecuting counsel, C.L. Asonta, on the application.
Although the prosecution did not oppose the request, Asonta urged the court to order Ozekhome to return the passport within three working days of his return to Nigeria.
Granting the application, Justice Oji held that there was no objection to the request and approved the temporary release of the passport to enable the defendant travel for medical treatment.
The judge ruled that the approved medical trip would run from July 9 to August 20 and reiterated that the passport must be returned to the court no later than August 26.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 28 for the continuation of trial.
Ponfa Useni, the second defendant, is the son of the late Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the military administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 to obtain a Nigerian international passport in the name of Tali Shani.
The Federal Government further alleged that Ozekhome assisted Useni in impersonating Tali Shani and that both men created a forged irrevocable power of attorney to support Ozekhome’s claim to a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges and remain on bail pending the conclusion of the trial.
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