The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody Mike Ozekhome (SAN) due to his alleged involvement in a controversial property case in the United Kingdom, often referred to as the 'Tali Shani affair.'
Reports suggest that Ozekhome was apprehended shortly after a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court dismissed a forgery charge that had previously been leveled against him. He is anticipated to face charges in court soon.
According to sources, this arrest is distinct from a new 12-count charge filed by the federal government earlier this week, which also pertains to the same property dispute.
The focal point of the controversy is a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The matter has been registered with the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, under case number REF/2023/0155, listing Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent. The late Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general, is also named in the broader case.
Ozekhome allegedly stated in the tribunal that he was given the property as a gift by "Mr Tali Shani" in 2021. However, attorneys for "Ms Tali Shani" claim she is the legitimate owner. A witness identified as "Mr Tali Shani" testified on behalf of Ozekhome, asserting that he possessed "Powers of Attorney" over the property and had passed it to him. He claimed ownership dating back to 1993 and mentioned that Useni was appointed as the property's manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner.”
Conversely, witnesses for "Ms Tali Shani" presented various documents, including an obituary, a National Identification Number card, and an ECOWAS passport, to back their ownership claims. The tribunal, however, ruled these documents as counterfeit and ultimately dismissed all claims, determining that neither "Mr" nor "Ms" Tali Shani existed.
In Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had previously filed a three-count charge against Ozekhome in the FCT high court on January 16, accusing him of knowingly submitting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, during the proceedings before the London tribunal. The attorney-general's office took over the case on January 26.
During a resumed hearing for arraignment, Rotimi Oyedepo, the attorney- general’s counsel, requested the withdrawal of the charge, informing the court that the AGF's office needed additional time to “review and consolidate issues involving various investigative agencies to fortify the case.” Subsequently, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, dismissed the charge, after which Ozekhome was arrested.
The federal government has since filed a new 12-count charge at the FCT high court in Abuja, which includes allegations of using a counterfeit Nigerian passport. According to the charge sheet, between May 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome, Ponfa Useni (also known as Tali Shani), and the deceased Jeremiah Useni allegedly produced “a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 bearing the name Tali Shani” which was supposedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to reinforce their claim over the London property.
The charges include conspiracy, forgery, personation, and several related offenses under different sections of the Penal Code Law 2009. One count asserts that the defendants “conspired to use a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani to further your claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.”
Furthermore, the federal government claims that Ponfa Useni wrongfully impersonated a nonexistent person named Tali Shani and executed a Power of Attorney under that assumed identity, while Ozekhome allegedly assisted by executing documents related to the disputed property. The case is set to advance at the FCT high court as the new charges develop.
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