By Amah
Kindly share:
The legal travails of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, have deepened following the Federal Government’s decision to file a fresh 12-count charge against him and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The new charge, instituted by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Federal Government, borders on allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and unlawful control of a property situated in the United Kingdom.
Background to the Prosecution
The dispute revolves around a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2. Prosecutors allege that beginning in 2020, the defendants orchestrated a scheme to assert ownership over the London property using forged documentation, including a Nigerian International Passport.
The matter was initially handled by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). However, in January 2026, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) invoked Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case. The constitutional provision empowers the AGF to institute, assume control of, or discontinue criminal proceedings in the public interest.
Following the takeover, three earlier charges against Ozekhome were withdrawn. The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the decision was part of a broader review aimed at ensuring fairness, competence and public confidence in the justice system. Justice Peter Kekemeke subsequently struck out the charges after the application went unchallenged by the defence.
Barely hours later, the Federal Government returned to court with a revised and expanded 12-count charge.
Details of the Allegations
According to the new filing, Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni allegedly conspired in 2020 in Abuja to procure a false Nigerian International Passport bearing No. A07535463 in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Counts 1 and 2 accuse the defendants of agreeing to commit an illegal act by forging the passport and subsequently producing the false document between May 30, 2020, and 2021. Count 3 alleges conspiracy in 2022 to use the passport as genuine, while Count 4 claims it was dishonestly used between 2023 and 2025 in furtherance of the property claim.
The prosecution further alleges that on May 30, 2020, Ponfa Useni falsely presented himself as “Tali Shani,” described as a fictitious identity, and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in that name in connection with the London property.
Ozekhome is accused of abetting the alleged impersonation by jointly executing the Power of Attorney document, thereby facilitating the claim.
Property and Financial Claims
In Count 9, prosecutors allege that Ozekhome had under his control the London property in 2022, which investigators believe was unlawfully obtained by the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, using the alleged fictitious identity.
Count 10 alleges that Ozekhome also had control of £18,000, said to represent rental income accrued from the property and reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully derived.
The remaining counts accuse the defendants of conspiring in 2023 to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr Tali Shani,” dated May 4, 2023, and presenting it as an official communication from the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The offences are said to contravene several provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364 and 366.
Investigation and Next Steps
An affidavit deposed to by a litigation officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice states that investigations have been substantially concluded and that a prima facie case has been established against the defendants.
Both Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pending arraignment. The FCT High Court is expected to fix a date for the defendants to formally take their plea.
The Federal Government has maintained that the decision to refile and expand the charges followed a comprehensive legal review designed to uphold due process and reinforce inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption. The DPPF assured the court that the rights of the defendants would be protected throughout the proceedings.
As the matter returns to court under a renewed prosecutorial strategy, it is likely to attract significant public attention, given the stature of the principal defendant and the cross-border dimension of the alleged offences.
