FG ARRAIGNS OZEKHOME, JEREMIAH USENI’S SON OVER ‘FORGERY IN UK PROPERTY DISPUTE
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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The federal government has charged Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate from Nigeria (SAN), with using a fake Nigerian passport in a property dispute case in the United Kingdom (UK).
Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, who is the son of the late Jeremiah Useni, a former minister in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were both brought before Judge Chizoba Oji of the FCT high court in Maitama on Friday. They faced a total of 12 charges.
They both pleaded not guilty to all the counts afterwhich Tayo Oyetibo, counsel to Ozekhome, and F. R. Onoja, counsel to Useni, applied their bail.
Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel, did not oppose to the applications. In her ruling, Oji granted N10m bail to each of the defendants with a surety in like sum. The surties must have properties within the FCT. The defendants must also deposit their international passports with the court.
The judge said the defendants may return to their homes for the weekend if they are unable to meet the bail conditions immediately but must comply by Monday, failing which they would be remanded in prison.
On February 24, the FCT high court struck out charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Ozekhome on the same issue after the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice withdrew the charges.
According to the charge, the alleged acts contravene provisions of the Penal Code Law, 2009. The government further alleged that in 2022, the defendants conspired to use the said passport as genuine in furtherance of the property claim, contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 364.
The charge sheet also accused Useni of falsely personating a fictitious individual named Tali Shani and executing a power of attorney in that name in May 2020.
Ozekhome was alleged to have abetted the personation by participating in the execution of an irrevocable power of attorney dated May 30, 2020, to facilitate the property claim.
The prosecution further alleged that the acts amount to forgery and cheating by personation under various provisions of the Penal Code Law, 2009.
THE GENESIS
The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.
It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).
Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.
On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of “Ms Tali Shani” to claim ownership of the property.
However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake. The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
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