The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has instituted criminal proceedings against renowned lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over alleged fraudulent dealings involving a property in London.
The anti-graft agency filed a three-count charge against the senior advocate at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The charge was filed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who heads the High Profile Prosecution Department of the commission.
According to court documents dated January 16 and marked FCT/HC/CR/010/26, Mr Ozekhome is the sole defendant in the case. The charge sheet was obtained on Sunday.
In the first count, the ICPC alleged that the 68-year-old lawyer, who resides at Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, knowingly received a property identified as House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, from one Shani Tali around August 2021. The commission stated that the transaction was carried out with full knowledge that it constituted a felony, in violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The second count accused Mr Ozekhome of forging a Nigerian passport bearing number A07535463 in the name of Ms Tali while acting in his capacity as a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The ICPC claimed the document was created to falsely support ownership claims over the London property, an act punishable under the Penal Code Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
In the third count, the commission alleged that the defendant knowingly presented the same forged passport as a genuine document to back his ownership claim over the property, despite being aware that it was false.
Documents listed as exhibits include a judgement referenced REF/2023/0155 dated September 11, 2025, the defendant’s extra-judicial statement dated January 12, 2026, interim forfeiture proceedings related to the London house, and correspondence dated December 18, 2025. Other materials, including immigration data, are expected to be tendered.
The ICPC also named several witnesses, including its investigators Wakili Musa, Tosin Olayiwola, Ebenezer Nduo, and Blessing Monokpo. A representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service is also expected to testify.
The case has not yet been assigned to a trial judge.
The investigation into Mr Ozekhome followed a ruling by a London property tribunal, which reportedly linked him and others to fraudulent activities and forged documents. The probe was initiated after a petition by Olanrewaju Suraj of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), who alleged that the lawyer and others conspired with corrupt public officials to fraudulently claim ownership of the North London property.
(NAN)
