The federal high court in Abuja has fixed January 26 to rule on the final forfeiture of a London property linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The decision followed the failure of any individual or
representative of Useni’s estate to appear within the statutory 14-day window
to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the federal
government.
The proceedings arose from an ex parte application filed in
late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which sought an interim
forfeiture and preservation order over the disputed property, alleging it was
acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.
On November 28, Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, granted
the interim forfeiture order.
The judge directed the CCB to advertise the order in a
national newspaper within 14 days to invite “any person or body” with interest
in the property to come forward and prove legitimate acquisition.
BACKGROUND
The property is located at 79 Randall avenue, London NW2
7SX.
Named in the property dispute are Mike Ozekhome, a senior
advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Useni, a retired lieutenant-general.
The matter 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” had 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.
ICPC FILES CASE AGAINST OZEKHOME
The federal government has now filed a criminal charge
against Ozekhome over alleged forgery and use of false documents in the
disputed property case in the United Kingdom.
The three-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 was filed
before a federal high court in Abuja by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of high
profile prosecution department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Ngozi Onwuka, assistant chief legal
officer, on behalf of the attorney-general of the federation.
“COUNT ONE: That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of
No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at
a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, within the jurisdiction of this honourable
court, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly
given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under
section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000,” the
document reads.
“COUNT TWO: That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria did make a false document, to wit: Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX with intent to commit fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.
“COUNT THREE: That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’
of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout
at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a legal
practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria dishonestly used as genuine a false
Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali to support claim
of ownership of property known and described a s 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2
7SX when you had reason to believe that the said document was false and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under
Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory
Abuja, 2006.”
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