Popular lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, is facing criminal charges after the Federal Government accused him of forgery and using false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.

The three-count charge, FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja by prosecutors from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Ozekhome is accused of knowingly using forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

According to the charge, the alleged offences were committed in August 2021, partly in London and partly in Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.

The charge sheet contains three counts involving giving false information, forging documents, and attempting to deceive a public authority.

Count One alleges that Ozekhome knowingly received the London property as a gift from a person identified as Mr Shani Tali, knowing that the transaction was unlawful.

Count Two accuses him of making a forged Nigerian passport in the name of Shani Tali to support his claim to the property.

Count Three alleges that he knowingly used the forged passport as a genuine document to back his ownership claim.

The Federal Government plans to call several witnesses, including ICPC investigators and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Documents to be presented in court include the judgment of the London tribunal, official statements, letters from relevant authorities, and passport records linked to Shani Tali.

The case stems from a property dispute over 79 Randall Avenue, London, involving Ozekhome and the late Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd.).

The matter was heard at the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration, UK, under Case No. REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

Ozekhome claimed he received the property in 2021 as a gift from Mr Tali Shani. However, lawyers representing Ms Tali Shani argued that she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as Mr Tali Shani testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming he owned the property since 1993 and later appointed Useni as his property manager.

In response, witnesses for Ms Tali Shani presented documents such as an obituary notice, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, and phone records to support her claim.

However, the tribunal ruled that all the documents submitted in the name of Ms Tali Shani were fake. It dismissed all claims and concluded that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The tribunal further ruled that the true owner of the property, operating under a false identity, was the late Jeremiah Useni.