Babafemi Badejo, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) anti-corruption committee, says the federal government’s silence on the controversy surrounding a property in the United Kingdom (UK) is “damaging and deafening”.
Badejo said the “absence of tangible process and credible
interim updates” on the probe of the property saga contravenes the principles
of transparency and accountability”.
The property dispute involves Mike Ozekhome, a senior
advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the late Jeremiah Useni, a former minister of
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In October, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the
federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said the federal government would
launch an investigation into the property controversy.
In his New Year message, Badejo said in 2025, the committee
“witnessed significant strides in embedding anti-corruption mechanisms” within
the legal profession.
He said approval by the NBA national executive committee
(NEC) for the establishment of anti-corruption committees at branch level is a
“pivotal achievement”.
“However, our reflections are tempered by profound concern
over developments that threaten to erode public trust in our legal and
anti-corruption institutions,” the statement reads.
“The protracted and highly publicised corruption cases
involving legal practitioners are beyond private legal problems into a critical
test of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability, transparency and realisation of
the rule of law.
“In 2025, there was the Tali Shani v. Chief Mike Agbedor
Ozekhome case that was decided outside our legal jurisdiction but threw
problems in Nigeria, including forgery, identity manipulation that trivializes
the relevance of our national identity data system, etc.
“While the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation’s
initial announcement of a probe was a necessary first step, the ensuing silence
is deafening and damaging.
“The absence of tangible progress, credible interim updates,
or a definitive timeline for resolution contravenes the principles of
transparency and accountability that underpin Nigeria’s obligations under the
United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
“Specifically, it undermines Articles 10, 13, and 33 of
UNCAC, which mandate public sector transparency, active civil society
participation, and the protection of reporting persons.”
Badejo said the committee has identified urgent priorities
for 2026, including institutional accountability, preventive advocacy,
strategic litigation & policy engagement.
BACKGROUND
The controversy involves a property located at 79 Randall
Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The property dispute 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).
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.
The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that
neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for
Ms Tali Shani to be fake.
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