Court Strikes Out Forgery Charge Against Ozekhome as AGF Withdraws Case

Court Strikes Out Forgery Charge Against Ozekhome as AGF Withdraws Case

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama has struck out the alleged forgery charge filed against senior advocate, Mike Ozekhome, following the withdrawal of the case by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The suit was initially filed on January 16 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which brought a three-count charge bordering on forgery allegations against the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

However, the Office of the AGF took over the prosecution of the case on January 26.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, scheduled for Ozekhome’s arraignment, counsel to the AGF, Rotimi Oyedepo, moved an application to withdraw the charge.

Oyedepo informed the court that the AGF’s office required more time to review and consolidate issues arising from investigations conducted by different agencies, adding that this would help strengthen the case.

On the last adjourned date, Oyedepo had assured the court that the matter would be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law.”

Following the application for withdrawal, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, struck out the case.

Ozekhome had been 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 UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

The alleged offences were said to have been committed in August 2021 in the Maitama area of Abuja.

The property dispute involved Ozekhome and the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni, who was also named in the matter.

The case, filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration in the United Kingdom under reference number REF/2023/0155, listed Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

While Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from one “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” claimed she was the rightful owner.

During proceedings before the UK tribunal, a witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in favour of Ozekhome, asserting that he held powers of attorney over the property and had transferred it to the lawyer.

However, witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani” tendered documents including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport and other materials in support of their claim.

The tribunal ultimately found the documents submitted by “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake and dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed. It held that the real owner of the property, under a false name, was Useni.

With the withdrawal of the charge by the AGF’s office, the criminal proceedings against Ozekhome have, for now, come to an end.