By Sunday Apah
In a dramatic escalation of a contentious UK property dispute, the Federal Government has slammed criminal charges against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, accusing him of perpetrating forgery and employing counterfeit documents to claim ownership of a London property.
The three-count criminal charge, docketed FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was officially filed on Friday before the Federal High Court in Abuja by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of prosecutions at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside Ngozi Onwuka, assistant chief legal officer, acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The veteran legal luminary stands accused of knowingly submitting falsified papers—including a forged Nigerian international passport—to substantiate his ownership claim over a property situated at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. These alleged acts reportedly took place during legal proceedings at the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The purported offenses occurred in August 2021 within Maitama, Abuja, falling under the Federal Capital Territory High Court’s jurisdiction.
The formal charges encompass: the submission of false information, the creation and use of forged documents, and the deliberate attempt to deceive a public authority.
Specifically, the charges state: Count one accuses Ozekhome of unlawfully receiving ownership of the London property from a certain “Mr. Shani Tali” in August 2021—a transaction said to constitute a felony under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count two alleges that Ozekhome forged a Nigerian passport bearing the name “Shani Tali” in Abuja to fraudulently bolster his claim to the property, violating sections of the Penal Code concerning forgery and fraud.
Count three charges that Ozekhome dishonestly used the forged passport as authentic evidence despite knowing its falsity, further breaching penal statutes.
The prosecution has signaled its intent to summon a range of witnesses including ICPC investigators and Nigerian Immigration Service officials. Crucial exhibits will include the London First-Tier Tribunal judgment, sworn statements, official correspondences, and passport intelligence relating to “Shani Tali.”
No trial date has been scheduled as the justice machinery prepares to handle this high-profile case.
At the core of the controversy lies the ownership of the disputed address at Randall Avenue, involving Ozekhome and the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni.
The original dispute was submitted to the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), case REF/2023/0155, with “Tali Shani” positioning as the claimant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
While Ozekhome insists the property was gifted to him by “Mr. Tali Shani” in 2021, representatives for “Ms. Shani” maintain she holds rightful title.
Interestingly, a mysterious “Mr. Tali Shani” testified supporting Ozekhome’s claim, asserting possession of “Power of Attorney” over the property and alleging that he transferred ownership to Ozekhome. This individual also indicated that Useni was his appointed property manager and close confidant.
Conversely, documents tendered on behalf of “Ms. Tali Shani”—including an obituary, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, and telecommunications evidence—were declared fabricated by the tribunal. The judgment dismissed all claims by these purported parties and shockingly revealed that neither “Mr.” nor “Ms. Tali Shani” legally exist, concluding that the true proprietor, using a false identity, is the late Useni himself.
As this explosive saga unfolds, the Nigerian legal world and the public await the forthcoming trial that promises to expose the depths of deception and legal machinations behind this international property dispute.
