₦airaland Forum

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has struck out a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

On January 16, the ICPC filed a three-count charge bordering on forgery allegations, against Ozekhome.

The office of the attorney-general of the federation had taken over the case on January 26.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the AGF, had on the last adjourned date, said the case will be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.

However, at the resumed court session on Tuesday, which was scheduled for arraignment of Ozekhome, Oyedepo moved an application to withdraw the case.

He said the office of the AGF would need time to review and consolidate the issues which cuts across different investigating agencies.

Oyedepo added that this would help strengthen the case.

Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, struck out the case.

Ozekhome was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

The alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021 in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital, within the jurisdiction of the court.

BACKGROUND

Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.

It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said 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 known as ‘Mr Tali Shani had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.

On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.

The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The court ruled that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.

treesun:
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has struck out a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

On January 16, the ICPC filed a three-count charge bordering on forgery allegations, against Ozekhome.


The office of the attorney-general of the federation had taken over the case on January 26.



Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the AGF, had on the last adjourned date, said the case will be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.


However, at the resumed court session on Tuesday, which was scheduled for arraignment of Ozekhome, Oyedepo moved an application to withdraw the case.


He said the office of the AGF would need time to review and consolidate the issues which cuts across different investigating agencies.


Oyedepo added that this would help strengthen the case.


Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, struck out the case.


Ozekhome was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

The alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021 in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital, within the jurisdiction of the court.

BACKGROUND



Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.

It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said 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 known as ‘Mr Tali Shani had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.


On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.

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The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The court ruled that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.



https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-agf-withdraws-forgery-charge-against-ozekhome/

Burob:
He has being given room to escape, padi padi people.

Very sure APC Edo state, along with their governor, & NBA Edo state chapter have gone to appeal to the president to find a way to tamper mercy on their son, father, grandfather uncle, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

A Pdp lawyer, he will swear that it was the Pdp that put him in this wahala with Useni, & now pledge allegiance & legal services to the APC henceforth & forever.

Kukutente23:
Where is seunmsg
He was blowing hot air here over this matter
APC have thrown their myrmidons under the bus again just like Buhari pardoned some PDP looters then
Las Las there's no political party anywhere
It's the elites vs the masses
The most foolish are the masses who carry the elites on their backs thinking they care about them because they're from same tribe or religion

Aprocco:
Ozhekome- an activist in the day, crook by night.

He has so many PDP Governors that have crossed into APC. So many of them that have electoral value for soft landing negotiations for Ozhekome.

Burob:
He has being given room to escape, padi padi people.

Very sure APC Edo state, along with their governor, & NBA Edo state chapter have gone to appeal to the president to find a way to tamper mercy on their son, father, grandfather uncle, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

A Pdp lawyer, he will swear that it was the Pdp that put him in this wahala with Useni, & now pledge allegiance & legal services to the APC henceforth & forever.

Odidigboigbo:
You can call him any name you like, but he is simply doing his job as a lawyer, and a smart one at that. That is his area of specialisation. Just as lawyers defend individuals accused of election malpractice, it does not mean they are part of the wrongdoing.

Even hardened criminals have lawyers who represent them; that does not make the lawyer a criminal. In fact, if an accused person does not have legal representation, the state is obligated to provide one. That is in line with international best practice and the principles of fair trial.

I have said in several forums that if the EFCC truly understands its strategy gaps, it should consider bringing someone like Mike Ozekhome into its legal team. He appears to understand the loopholes in the EFCC’s processes and effectively leverages them to the advantage of his clients, which is why he has succeeded in winning several high-profile cases against the commission.

kedeojo:
noThat should be Oshiomole effect. they are both of etsako tribe and very good friends. forget those so quarrel back then, expecially with another of their tribesman, Dan orbih.

iwaeda:
All the noise makers should gather here. After all said and done, Ozekhome will get the London house. Where are those claiming he submitted fake documents. APC never cease to amuse you. One step forward, 30 backwards.

Dalohad:
I knew this was going to happen.

A lawyer told me that AGF has the right to withdraw charges against anybody and kill off a matter in court. Even if it is a murder case.

Ozehkome is a friend of the current AGF and he (my lawyer friend) predicted that this was going to happen.

I just called the lawyer after seeing this news, and we had a good laugh..


My fellow Nigerians, this country is dead and gone. Just hustle for your personal development and find a way to reap from the system, heads or tails..

Forget about Nigeria, it never going to get better..INEC and Judiciary the last hopes of common man have been hijacked by evil men in high places.