The Nigerian government through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has filed a criminal charge against senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), over alleged forgery and use of false documents in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom.
The three-count charge filed by the ICPC against the senior advocate through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha who is the Head, High Profile Prosecution Department, at the Abuja High Court on Friday, accused Ozekhome of complicity in the large-scale corruption case.
Count one in the fresh charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/26 dated and filed on January 16, 2026, which named Ozekhome as sole defendant, alleged that Ozekhome, 68 years, of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout in London, within the jurisdiction of the court, directly received House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, purportedly given to him by one Mr Shani Tali.
The ICPC said the act constitutes a felony, an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.
In count two, Ozekhome was alleged to have, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made a false document with a Nigeria passport: A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali.
The Commission alleged that the senior lawyer did this with a plan to use the same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as “79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 78X with intent to commit fraud” 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 accused Ozekhome of dishonestly using as genuine, a false “Nigeria passport A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali to support claim of ownership of property known and described as ’79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX,’ when he had reason to know that the said document was false.
The ICPC said the offence is contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.
In support of the charge, a list of exhibits was attached, which include a case number: REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated September 11, 2025 and an extra-judicial statement of the defendant dated January 12, 2026.
In the interim, the affected properties have been placed on a forfeiture proceedings in respect of House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX at the Federal High Court; a letter dated December 18, 2025; a data page of Shani Tali’s passport, and other relevant documents.
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