The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) over his alleged role in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom involving a London residence linked to the late General Jeremiah Useni of Plateau State.

The charges follow earlier findings by a UK tribunal, which reportedly indicted Ozekhome for allegedly using fraudulent documents to lay claim to a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The tribunal was said to have struck out all evidence presented by the Nigerian lawyer, accusing him of sharp practices in collaboration with a witness identified as Tali Shani.

The matter had earlier drawn public criticism over the Federal Government’s alleged failure to investigate the case.

However, on Friday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a three-count charge against Ozekhome at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the High Profile Prosecution Department of the ICPC, alongside Ngozi Onwuka, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

According to the charge sheet, the allegations border on giving false information, use of forged documents, and attempts to deceive a public authority.

Details of the Charges

• Count One:
  Ozekhome is accused of directly receiving the London property in August 2021, allegedly from Tali Shani, with knowledge that the transaction constituted a felony, contrary to Sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
• Count Two:
  The senior lawyer is alleged to have, while acting as a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made a false Nigerian passport bearing the name Mr Shani Tali in Abuja, with intent to support ownership claims over the disputed property. The offence is said to contravene Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code, Laws of the FCT, 2006.
• Count Three:
  Ozekhome is further accused of dishonestly using the allegedly forged Nigerian passport as genuine, despite having reason to believe it was false, in violation of Sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code.

A date has yet to be fixed for the commencement of the trial.