BREAKING: EFCC Arrests Mike Ozekhome [DETAILS]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, over his alleged involvement in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom popularly known as the “Tali Shani affair.”

The arrest reportedly took place shortly after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court struck out an earlier forgery charge filed against him.

Sources disclosed that Ozekhome may be arraigned in court following his arrest, as fresh charges have already been filed.

Court Proceedings and Withdrawal of Earlier Charge

The matter had earlier come up before the FCT High Court, where a three-count charge was filed on January 16 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The case was later taken over by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on January 26.

At the resumed hearing for arraignment, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Attorney-General, applied to withdraw the charge, stating that the AGF’s office required time to review and consolidate issues involving multiple investigating agencies to strengthen the case.

Presiding judge, Justice Peter Kekemeke, subsequently struck out the charge. However, shortly after the ruling, the EFCC moved to arrest Ozekhome.

The UK Property Dispute

The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which was the subject of proceedings before the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration under case number REF/2023/0155.

In the UK proceedings, Tali Shani was listed as the applicant, while Ozekhome was named as respondent. Also mentioned in the dispute was the late retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni.

Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift in 2021 from “Mr Tali Shani,” who testified that he had powers of attorney over the property and had transferred it to him. He claimed ownership of the property dating back to 1993 and described Useni as his property manager and business associate.

However, representatives of “Ms Tali Shani” challenged the claim, presenting documents including an obituary notice, National Identification Number card, ECOWAS passport, and phone records in an attempt to establish ownership.

The UK tribunal reportedly dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed, and found certain documents tendered in the proceedings to be fake.

Fresh 12-Count Charge

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has filed a 12-count charge against Ozekhome at the FCT High Court, Abuja. The charges allege that between 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome and others conspired to create and use a false Nigerian International Passport bearing the name “Tali Shani” to support a claim to the London property.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences include conspiracy, forgery, personation, and abetment, contrary to provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009.

The government specifically alleged that a passport numbered A07535463 was falsely made and used to facilitate claims to the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.

Ozekhome is also accused of abetting personation through the execution of an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, purportedly involving a fictitious individual identified as Tali Shani.