Legal Firestorm: FG Files Criminal Charges Against Senior Advocate Mike Ozekhome Over Alleged UK Property Forgery
The Nigerian legal community is in shock as the Federal Government officially launched a criminal prosecution against renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome. The charges, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), center on allegations of forgery and the use of false documents regarding a high-stakes property dispute in London.
The London Connection: A Disputed Gift?
The case stems from a legal battle over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London. According to court documents, Ozekhome claimed he received the house as a gift in 2021 from an individual identified as Mr. Shani Tali.
However, the ICPC alleges that the foundation of this claim is built on fabricated evidence. The commission claims that Ozekhome knowingly presented a forged Nigerian passport (No. A07535463) in the name of Shani Tali to the London First-Tier Tribunal to secure ownership of the asset.
The Three-Count Charge Breakdown
Filed before the FCT High Court in Abuja, the charge sheet outlines a series of serious allegations:
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Illegal Receipt of Property: Receiving the London property in a manner that constitutes a felony under the Corrupt Practices Act.
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Making a False Document: Forging a Nigerian passport to back a fraudulent ownership claim.
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Dishonest Use of Forged Documents: Presenting the fake passport as genuine during legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
A Mystery Witness and an “Invisible” Owner
The drama deepened during the UK tribunal proceedings. While a witness appeared claiming to be “Mr. Shani Tali” (supporting Ozekhome), opposing lawyers presented evidence for a “Ms. Tali Shani.”
In a bizarre twist, the London tribunal eventually ruled that neither “Mr.” nor “Ms.” Tali Shani actually existed as presented. The tribunal found the documents from both sides to be fraudulent, concluding that the property actually belonged to the late Jeremiah Useni.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome
What’s Next?
The Federal Government has lined up investigators and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officials to testify against the 68-year-old silk. As the legal heavyweight prepares his defense, the case promises to be one of the most high-profile anti-corruption trials of 2026.
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