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The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally filed a three-count criminal charge against Chief Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), accusing him of fraud, forgery and use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The case was filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja under charge number FCT/HC/CR/010/26 on January 16, 2026.
According to the charge sheet filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation:
Count One alleges that in August 2021, Ozekhome, 68, received a London property identified as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX said to have been given to him by one Shani Tali, an act the government claims he knew was unlawful and thus a felony under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two accuses him of forging a Nigerian international passport (No. A07535463) in the name of Shani Tali while in Abuja to support the claim of property ownership an offence under the Penal Code, CAP 532, Laws of the FCT.
Count Three alleges he used the forged passport as genuine, knowing it was false, to substantiate his claim over the London property.
The government has listed several investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) among its intended witnesses and plans to tender documents including the UK tribunal judgment and passport data as exhibits.
The charges follows a September 2025 UK First-Tier Tribunal judgment, which found that the London property actually forms part of the estate of the late General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, dismissing claims tied to Ozekhome and individuals claiming to be Tali Shani.
The Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had earlier signalled concern about complaints against senior lawyers in high-profile cases, including this one, and indicated the government’s intent to pursue misconduct where found.
This development would further spark attention in Nigeria’s legal and political circles as the case moves toward trial.