The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, over his alleged involvement in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom popularly referred to as the “Tali Shani affair.”
It was gathered that Ozekhome was arrested shortly after a Federal Capital Territory High Court struck out a forgery charge earlier filed against him.
Sources who spoke with The Cable on the development said he may be charged in court at any moment.
The development followed Tuesday’s proceedings before the FCT High Court, where a three-count charge had been filed on January 16.
The charge, initially instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, accused Ozekhome of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the UK First-tier Tribunal.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had taken over the case on January 26.
At the resumed hearing slated for Ozekhome’s arraignment, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Attorney-General, applied to withdraw the charge.
He told the court that the AGF’s office required time to review and consolidate issues involving different investigating agencies to strengthen the case.
Consequently, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, struck out the charge. However, shortly after the case was struck out, the EFCC arrested Ozekhome.
The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The dispute was filed at the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent.
Also named in the dispute was Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.
The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome maintained that he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers representing “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred it to him.
He asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner.”
On the other hand, documents including an obituary announcement, National Identification Number card, ECOWAS passport and phone records were tendered by witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani” to establish ownership.
However, the tribunal reportedly found the documents tendered on behalf of “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake.
In its ruling, the tribunal dismissed all claims, holding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
Federal Government Files Fresh 12-Count Charge
The federal government filed a 12-count charge against Ozekhome at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The office of the attorney-general also filed fresh criminal charges against Ozekhome, alleging, among other things, that he used a fake Nigerian passport.
In the charge sheet, the federal government said between May 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome, Ponfa, and the late Useni made a “false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim of a property, lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.”
The federal government said the offence contravened the Penal Code Law 2009.
Part of the charge sheet reads, “That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani to facilitate your claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.
“That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes between 2023 and 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly used a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and you thereby committed an offence of forgery contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 364 of the same Law.
“That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court falsely personated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character made a Power of Attorney wherein you held yourself out as Tali Shani and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 179 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under the same section of the same Law.
“That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, abetted the commission of an offence to wit: personation of one Tali Shani by Ponfa Useni who with such assumed false character made and executed with you as a party, an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May, 2020 to facilitate your claim of a property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 83, 84 of the Penal Code Law, 2009 and punishable under section 179 of the same Law.
“That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court cheated by personation when you pretended to be one Tali Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character executed an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 with Chief Mike. A. A Ozekhome, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 322 of the same section of the same Law.”