The Federal Government has filed a fresh 12-count charge against prominent lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, over alleged conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and unlawful control of a United Kingdom property.
The charge, lodged before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Justice, accuses the defendants of falsifying documents, including a Nigerian passport, to support a claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.
The late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, was listed in several counts as a co-conspirator.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 in Abuja to procure a false Nigerian International Passport bearing No. A07535463 in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, with the intention of using it to advance their claim to the London property.
In counts one and two, the prosecution alleged that the defendants agreed to commit an unlawful act by forging the passport and subsequently producing the document between May 30, 2020 and 2021, contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law, punishable under Section 364.
Count three accused them of conspiring in 2022 to present the allegedly forged passport as genuine in furtherance of their claim, while count four alleged that the document was dishonestly used as authentic between 2023 and 2025.
The government, in counts five and seven, accused Useni of false personation and cheating by impersonation, alleging that on or about May 30, 2020, he presented himself as “Tali Shani,” said to be a fictitious identity, and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in that name in connection with the property.
Ozekhome was, in counts six and eight, accused of aiding and abetting the alleged offences by jointly executing the Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, with the purported fictitious person to facilitate the property claim.
Count nine alleged that Ozekhome, sometime in 2022 in Abuja, had under his control the London property, which investigators reasonably suspected was unlawfully acquired by the late Useni using a fictitious identity.
In count 10, the prosecution alleged that Ozekhome had control of £18,000, said to be part of rental proceeds from the property, which authorities suspect was unlawfully obtained.
Counts 11 and 12 alleged that the defendants conspired in 2023 to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr Tali Shani,” dated May 4, 2023, and falsely presented it as having been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to bolster their claim.
The offences were said to contravene multiple provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364 and 366.
The charge was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, and Chief State Counsel A.R. Tahir on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
An affidavit deposed to by a litigation officer in the ministry stated that investigations had been substantially concluded and that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.
Ozekhome and the second defendant are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, while the FCT High Court is expected to fix a date for their arraignment.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney-General withdrew three earlier charges filed against Ozekhome.
Oyedepo had informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the Attorney-General opted for a comprehensive review of the matter to determine the appropriate legal steps.
The court subsequently struck out the earlier charges following an application that was not opposed by the defence team led by Paul Erokoro.
On January 29, 2026, Oyedepo notified the court that the Attorney-General had taken over the prosecution from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission pursuant to Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the AGF to institute, assume or discontinue criminal proceedings.
He stated that the decision was guided by public interest and the need to ensure fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system, adding that inter-agency collaboration in the fight against corruption also informed the move.
Justice Kekemeke granted the application and struck out the earlier charge.
