The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over his alleged involvement in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom known as the “Tali Shani affair”.
Ozekhome was taken into custody shortly after a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court struck out a forgery charge previously filed against him.
He is expected to face fresh charges imminently.
This development is separate from the new 12-count criminal charge filed by the federal government on Tuesday concerning the same matter.
ORIGIN OF THE DISPUTE
The controversy involves a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The case was filed at the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration under reference REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent. The late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni was also named.
Ozekhome claimed he received the property as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in Ozekhome’s favour, stating he held Powers of Attorney over the property from 1993 and later appointed Useni as property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner”.
Conversely, witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani” presented documents including an obituary announcement, National Identification Number (NIN) card, ECOWAS passport, and phone records to establish ownership.
The tribunal ruled all documents tendered on behalf of “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake and dismissed the claims, concluding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
ICPC/AGF CHARGE AND WITHDRAWAL
On January 16, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a three-count charge accusing Ozekhome of knowingly presenting forged documents — including a Nigerian international passport — to support his ownership claim during proceedings at the UK tribunal.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the case on January 26.
At Tuesday’s resumed hearing scheduled for Ozekhome’s arraignment, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo applied to withdraw the charge, stating the AGF’s office needed more time to review and consolidate issues across multiple investigating agencies to strengthen the case.
Presiding judge Peter Kekemeke struck out the charge.
However, EFCC operatives arrested Ozekhome almost immediately afterward.
FRESH 12-COUNT CHARGE
The federal government filed a new 12-count charge at the FCT High Court, Abuja, alleging conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and unlawful control of the London property.
Key allegations include:
– Conspiracy to forge and produce a false Nigerian international passport (No. A07535463) in the name of Tali Shani between May 2020 and 2021 (contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009, punishable under Section 364).
– Conspiracy to use the forged passport as genuine in 2022 to support the property claim.
– Dishonest use of the passport as genuine between 2023 and 2025.
– Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani) falsely personated “Tali Shani” and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney on May 30, 2020.
– Ozekhome abetted the offences of impersonation and cheating by personation by jointly executing the Power of Attorney.
– Ozekhome had unlawful control of the property, suspected to have been illegally obtained by the late Gen. Useni under a fictitious name.
– Ozekhome had unlawful control of £18,000 in rent from the property.
– 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 claim.
The case remains ongoing, with Ozekhome currently in EFCC custody.
