The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the criminal case instituted against senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The takeover stalled Ozekhome’s planned arraignment before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a three-count charge in which he is accused, among other offences, of forgery.
At the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced that he was representing the AGF and formally informed the court of the decision to assume control of the prosecution.
Oyedepo said the AGF was acting under the powers conferred by Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
Counsel for the ICPC, Osuebeni Akpomisingha, did not oppose the takeover. Similarly, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who led a defence team comprising 15 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, did not object.
Following an unopposed application for adjournment by Oyedepo, Justice Peter Kekemeke adjourned the matter to February 24 for arraignment.
London property forfeiture case linked to Ozekhome and Useni
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja had fixed January 26 to rule on the final forfeiture of a London property linked to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the late Jeremiah Useni.
The decision followed the failure of any individual or representative of Useni’s estate to appear within the statutory 14-day period to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The proceedings arose from an ex parte application filed in late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), seeking an interim forfeiture and preservation order over the property, which it alleged was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.
On November 28, Justice Binta Nyako granted the interim forfeiture order and directed the CCB to advertise it in a national newspaper within 14 days to invite any interested party to prove legitimate ownership.
The property, located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, was named in a dispute involving Ozekhome and the late Useni, a retired Lieutenant-General.
The matter was filed before the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration, United Kingdom, under case number ref/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
The property had been claimed by a “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and by Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome told the tribunal that he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted 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 the respondent. He said he had owned the property since 1993 and 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, a National Identification Number card, an ECOWAS passport, and phone records, to support her claim.
In its judgment, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake and subsequently dismissed all the claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
