The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rejected the authenticity of a Nigerian passport presented in a property dispute case in London, stating that the document does not exist in its official records.
This revelation was made during proceedings at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni are facing trial over allegations of forgery, impersonation, and conspiracy linked to a property said to be associated with the late Jeremiah Useni.
A prosecution witness, Aridegbe Akim, who serves with the NIS, told the court that the passport in question, bearing a specific identification number and issued in the name “Tali Shani,” could not be found in the agency’s database.
He explained that the immigration service maintains a detailed electronic system that records every passport issued, including biometric information and National Identification Number (NIN), making it possible to trace any valid document.
According to him, a search conducted using the provided name yielded no results, indicating that the passport has no official backing or record within the system.
Under cross-examination, the witness outlined the passport issuance process, noting that it involves multiple stages such as payment, document generation, biometric capture, and final issuance — none of which were linked to the disputed document.
He also stated that although the passport may appear genuine in physical form, each valid passport carries a unique number tied to verifiable records, which was not the case here.
The case revolves around a 12-count charge filed by the federal authorities, accusing the defendants of producing forged documents, including a passport and power of attorney, to support a claim over a London property.
Following the testimony, the court adjourned the case to May 18 to allow the prosecution to present additional witnesses.
