The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a senior lawyer in Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, over his alleged involvement in a controversial property case in the UK now known as the ‘Tali Shani Affair’.
CNN understands that Ozekhom was arrested shortly after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court dismissed the forgery charges against him.
He is expected to be charged in court any time from now.
The Cable has also learned that this is separate from the 12 new charges filed by the federal government on Tuesday regarding the same issue.
Genesis
The dispute centers on a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Names in the property dispute include Ozekhom and retired Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni, now deceased.
The case has been submitted to the British Land Registry First Class Tribunal (Property Division) with case number REF/2023/0155. The applicant is Tali Shani and the defendant is Ozekhome.
The property is claimed by “Ms. Tali Shani” on the one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhom said he received the house as a gift from “Mr. Tali Shani” in 2021, while “Ms. Shani’s” lawyer insisted that she was the legal owner.
A witness named “Mr. Tali Shani” testified for Ozekhome, claiming that he had a “power of attorney” over the property and transferred the property to the defendant (Ozekhome).
Mr Tali Shani, who has claimed the property since 1993, claims he later appointed Useni as its property manager, describing Useni as an “older friend and business associate”.
On the other hand, Ms. Tali Shani’s witnesses produced several documents including obituary, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc. to claim ownership of the property.
However, the court found that all documents provided for Ms. Tali Shani were false.
The court subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
ICPC/AGF case
In three charges filed at the FCT High Court on January 16, the ICPC accused Ozekhome of knowingly producing forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim to the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX during a hearing at the London First Class Tribunal.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office took over the case on January 26.
AGF’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, earlier assured the court that the matter would be prosecuted with “the highest standards of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and observance of due process of law”.
But at a hearing on Ozekokhom’s trial that resumed on Tuesday, Oyedepo applied to have the charges withdrawn.
He told the court that the AGF office needed time to review and consolidate issues involving the different investigative agencies to strengthen the case.
Therefore, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, dismissed the charges.
However, Ozekhom was arrested by the EFCC soon after the case was dismissed.
new case
The federal government on Tuesday filed 12 charges against Ozekhome at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
The Attorney General’s Office also filed new criminal charges against Ozekokhom, accusing him of using a fake Nigerian passport, among other things.
The federal government said in the charge sheet that between May 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome, Ponfa and the late Useni produced “a fake Nigerian international passport with number A07535463 in the name of Tali Shani and claimed that the passport was issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service for the purpose of using the passport to support your London estate.
The federal government said the offense contravened the Criminal Code 2009.
“You, Chief Mike Agbedo Abu Ozehom (SAN), male, adult, No. 55, Manilo Street, Meta, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (also known as Tali Shani), male, adult, No. 12, M. Street, Phase I, Dagash, Kado Estate, Phase I, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), No. 12, M. Street, Phase I, Dagash, Kado Estate, Phase I, Abuja. Adult No., and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometime in the year 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, you committed an offense contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code, 2009, by conspiring between you to use a fake Nigerian international passport named Tali Shani (No. A07535463) as genuine to facilitate your claim to property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom,
“You, Chief Mike Agbedo Abu Ozehom (SAN), Male, Adult, No. 55, Metamaniro Street, Abuja, Punfa Useni (also known as Tali Shani), Male, Adult, No. 12, M. Street, Dargash, Kado Village, Abuja, Kado Estate Phase I, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes from 2023 to 2023 By dishonestly passing off as genuine the Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463, bearing the name of Tali Shani, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court during the year 2009, General Seni, you are therefore guilty of forgery contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code, 2009 and punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
“You, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), male, adult, on or about 30 May 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, residing at No. 12, Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate Phase 1, Abuja, impersonated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and in such assumed capacity signed your self-proclaimed offenses under Section 179 of 2009 The provisions of the Criminal Code of 2006 may be punished in accordance with the same provisions of that law.
“You, Chief Mike Agbedo Abu Ozehom (SAN), male, adult, 55 Nile Street, Abuja, sometime in the year 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, Abuja, abetted the commission of a crime of wit: Ponfa Useni impersonating one Tali Shani with his supposed fake book as of the 30th day of the year, 2020.
“You, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), male, of adult age, residing at 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, on or about 30 May 2020 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, Abuja, when you impersonated Tali Shani (a fictitious person) and executed such irrevocable power of attorney dated 20 May 2020.
