A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni (son of late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni, also known as Tali Shani) in the sum of N10 million each.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Chizoba Orji on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Each defendant must provide one surety resident in Abuja who owns verifiable landed property within the FCT. The court also ordered that both defendants deposit their international passports with the registry.
The bail follows applications argued by defence counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and S.R. Onoja for Useni.
Ozekhome and Useni were arraigned on an amended 12-count charge alleging conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and unlawful control of a property at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. Both pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (Director of Public Prosecutions) presented the amended charge dated February 25, 2026, along with proof of evidence and supporting documents (pages 1–501), which the court admitted.
Oyedepo requested accelerated hearing in the interest of justice and asked for bail conditions that would guarantee the defendants’ appearance at trial.
Defence counsel thanked the prosecution for not opposing bail and expressed readiness for speedy trial. Oyetibo highlighted that Ozekhome had consistently honoured invitations from the EFCC and ICPC, noted his SAN status and established Abuja law firm, and stated his passport was already with the EFCC. He urged bail on self-recognition.
Onoja cited his client’s heart condition and the liberal administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
The prosecution acknowledged the passports were in EFCC custody but left conditions to the court’s discretion.
Oyedepo raised concern over the unusually large number of defence lawyers (reportedly around 91) and urged streamlining.
In her ruling, Justice Orji admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety in like sum (verifiable landed property in Abuja) and ordered passport deposit.
The defendants were to be released but must perfect bail conditions by Monday, March 2, 2026. Trial was adjourned to March 13, April 15, and April 16, 2026.
The charges include:
– Counts 1–2: Conspiracy to forge and produce a false Nigerian passport (2020–2021).
– Count 3: Conspiracy to use the forged passport as genuine (2022).
– Count 4: Dishonest use of the passport as genuine (2023–2025).
– Counts 5 & 7: Useni’s alleged false personation as “Tali Shani” and cheating by personation via an irrevocable Power of Attorney (May 30, 2020).
– Counts 6 & 8: Ozekhome’s alleged abetment by jointly executing the Power of Attorney.
– Count 9: Ozekhome’s alleged unlawful control of the London property (suspected to have been obtained illegally by late Gen. Useni under a fictitious name).
– Count 10: Ozekhome’s alleged unlawful control of £18,000 rent from the property.
– Counts 11–12: Conspiracy to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr. Tali Shani” (dated May 4, 2023) to support the property claim.
