UK Property Dispute: FG Slams Criminal Charges on Ozekhome Over Alleged Forgery

The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over alleged forgery and the use of false documents in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom.

The three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the High-Profile Prosecution Department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside Ngozi Onwuka, an assistant chief legal officer, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Ozekhome is accused 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 London First-Tier Tribunal.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed in August 2021 in Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The charge comprises three counts bordering on giving false information, use of forged documents, and attempts to deceive a public authority.

The charge reads in part:

COUNT ONE:

“That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

COUNT TWO:

“That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria did make a false document, to wit: Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX with intent to commit fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.”

COUNT THREE:

“That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria dishonestly used as genuine a false Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX when you had reason to believe that the said document was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.”

The Federal Government listed several witnesses it plans to call, including its investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Documents to be tendered include the judgment of the London First-Tier Tribunal, extra-judicial statements, correspondence from relevant authorities, and passport data relating to Shani Tali. A trial date has yet to be fixed.

The case centres on the disputed ownership of the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, involving Ozekhome and the late Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general.

The dispute was filed before the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

Both “Ms Tali Shani” and Ozekhome laid claim to the property. Ozekhome maintained that he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” argued she was the rightful owner.

A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming he held powers of attorney over the property and had transferred it to him. He further asserted ownership of the property since 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner.”

However, witnesses for Ms Tali Shani tendered several documents, including an obituary notice, National Identification Number card, ECOWAS passport, and phone records, to support their claim. The tribunal ultimately ruled that all the documents presented for Ms Tali Shani were fake.

The tribunal dismissed all claims, holding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed, and ruled that the true owner of the property—operating under a false name—was Useni.

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