Taiwo POPOOLA
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has filed a criminal charge against Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over allegations bordering on fraud in relation to a London property.
The ICPC, in a three-count charge filed by its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head, High Profile Prosecution Department, at the Abuja High Court, accused Ozekhome of complicity in the large-scale corruption case.
The fresh charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/26, dated and filed January 16, 2026, named the senior lawyer as the sole defendant.
Count one 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 Nigerian 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 supporta claim of ownership of property known and described as “79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 78X with intent to commit fraud”.
It said the offence is 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 the 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 includes a case number: REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated September 11, 2025 and an extra-judicial statement of the defendant dated January 12, 2026.
Others are interim 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.
The anti-corruption commission, in its proof of evidence, listed the witnesses to testify against the defendant, including Mr Wakili Musa and Mr Tosin Olayiwola, who are both investigators with ICPC.
A representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, whose name was not mentioned in the proof of evidence, is also expected to give evidence to establish the case against the senior lawyer.
Others are Mr Ebenezer Nduo and Mr Blessing Monokpo, who are also investigators with the ICPC, and other vital witnesses by way of subpoena or filing an additional list of witnesses.
At the time of filing the report, the case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
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Taiwo POPOOLA The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has filed a criminal charge against Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over allegations bordering on fraud in relation to a London property.The ICPC, in a three-count charge filed by its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head, High Profile Prosecution Department, at the Abuja High Court, accused Ozekhome of complicity in the large-scale corruption case.The fresh charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/26, dated and filed January 16, 2026, named the senior lawyer as the sole defendant.Count one 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 Nigerian 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 supporta claim of ownership of property known and described as “79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 78X with intent to commit fraud”.It said the offence is 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 the 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 includes a case number: REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated September 11, 2025 and an extra-judicial statement of the defendant dated January 12, 2026.Others are interim 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.The anti-corruption commission, in its proof of evidence, listed the witnesses to testify against the defendant, including Mr Wakili Musa and Mr Tosin Olayiwola, who are both investigators with ICPC.A representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, whose name was not mentioned in the proof of evidence, is also expected to give evidence to establish the case against the senior lawyer.Others are Mr Ebenezer Nduo and Mr Blessing Monokpo, who are also investigators with the ICPC, and other vital witnesses by way of subpoena or filing an additional list of witnesses.At the time of filing the report, the case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
