Breaking: FG Hits Mike Ozekhome With New 12-Count Criminal Charge

The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a new 12-count charge against Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (SAN) and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over alleged conspiracy, forgery, personation, and unlawful control of a property in the United Kingdom.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The charges, brought by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accuse the defendants of forging a Nigerian International Passport and other documents to support claims to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2. The late General Jeremiah Useni is named in several counts as a co-conspirator.

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 in Abuja to forge Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to back their claim to the London property.

• Counts 1 and 2: Alleged that the defendants conspired to forge the passport and used the false document between May 30, 2020, and 2021, contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009, punishable under Section 364.

• Count 3: Alleged conspiracy in 2022 to use the forged passport as genuine for their property claim.

• Count 4: Accused the defendants of dishonestly using the forged document between 2023 and 2025.

• Counts 5 and 7: Specifically implicated Useni in false personation and cheating by personation, alleging he presented himself as the fictitious “Tali Shani” and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney for the property on May 30, 2020.

• Counts 6 and 8: Alleged that Ozekhome abetted the offences of personation and cheating by jointly executing the said Power of Attorney with Useni.

• Count 9: Accused Ozekhome of controlling the London property in 2022, which was reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

• Count 10: Alleged Ozekhome controlled £18,000 from rent accrued from the property, also suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

• Counts 11 and 12: Alleged a 2023 conspiracy to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr. Tali Shani” dated May 4, 2023, purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to support their claim.

The offences are said to contravene multiple provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364, and 366.

The charges were signed by Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN), Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and A.R. Tahir, Chief State Counsel, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

In an affidavit by a litigation officer from the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution stated that investigations had substantially concluded and that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.

Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the FCT High Court is expected to fix a date for their arraignment.