The Federal Government has instituted a criminal prosecution against Chief Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over allegations of forgery, use of false documents and giving false information in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the High-Profile Prosecution Department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Ngozi Onwuka, assistant chief legal officer.
According to the prosecution, Ozekhome is accused of presenting forged documents including a Nigerian international passport to support his claim of ownership of a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
The three counts in the charge sheet allege that:
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Count One: In or about August 2021, Ozekhome allegedly directly Mr. Shani received the London property as a purported gift from one
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Tali, an act prosecutors say he knew was unlawful, contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
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Count Two: He is accused of making a false document specifically, a Nigerian passport bearing the name Shani Tali with the intent to use it to fraudulently support his claim of property ownership, an offence under Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
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Count Three: The charge sheet alleges that Ozekhome dishonestly used the forged passport as genuine, knowing it was false, to bolster his claim in the London proceedings, contrary to Section 366 and punishable under the Penal Code.
The prosecution listed several witnesses it intends to call, including ICPC investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
Documents to be tendered as exhibits include the UK tribunal’s judgment, extra-judicial statements, official correspondence and passport
The controversy stems from competing claims over the North London house at 79 Randall Avenue, which involved Ozekhome and the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni.
The dispute was first heard in the UK First-Tier Tribunal under case number REF/2023/0155.
Ozekhome had claimed that the property was gifted to him in 2021 by “Mr. Tali Shani, but the tribunal in a damning September 11, 2025, judgment described the matter as being tainted by alleged fraud, impersonation and forged documents, finding that the evidence presented did not support a lawful transfer.
A witness known as Mr. Tali Shani had testified in Ozekhome’s favour, asserting that he held powers of attorney over the property and had transferred it to the SAN.
But opposing counsel for Ms. Tali Shani argued she was the rightful owner and challenged the legitimacy of the documents.
The criminal charge in Nigeria follows the UK tribunal’s findings and underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating allegations of forged identity documents used in transnational legal disputes.
As of this report, the case has not yet been assigned a trial date in the Abuja High Court, and Ozekhome has yet to publicly respond to the fresh charges.
