The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mike Ozekhome (SAN) over his alleged involvement in a disputed United Kingdom property case widely referred to as the “Tali Shani affair.”
TheCable understands that Ozekhome was arrested shortly after a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court struck out a forgery charge previously filed against him. He is expected to be charged to court imminently.
Sources indicate that the arrest is separate from a fresh 12-count charge filed by the federal government earlier this week on the same property dispute.
The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The dispute, filed before the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration under case number REF/2023/0155, listed Tali Shani as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent. Also named in the broader dispute was the late Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general.
Ozekhome reportedly told the tribunal he received the property as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021. However, lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” maintained she was the rightful owner. A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in Ozekhome’s favour, claiming he held “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred it to him. He asserted ownership dating back to 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner.”
On the opposing side, witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani” tendered documents including an obituary announcement, a National Identification Number card, an ECOWAS passport and other materials to support ownership claims. The tribunal, however, ruled that the documents were fake and ultimately dismissed all claims, concluding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
In Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had earlier filed a three-count charge before the FCT high court on January 16, accusing Ozekhome of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, during proceedings before the London tribunal. The office of the attorney-general of the federation took over the case on January 26.
At a resumed hearing slated for arraignment, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the AGF, applied to withdraw the charge, telling the court the AGF’s office needed time “to review and consolidate issues involving different investigating agencies in order to strengthen the case.” The presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, subsequently struck out the charge. Ozekhome was arrested shortly after.
The federal government has now filed a fresh 12-count charge at the FCT high court in Abuja, alleging among other things the use of a fake Nigerian passport. According to the charge sheet, between May 2020 and 2021, Ozekhome, Ponfa Useni (also known as Tali Shani), and the late Jeremiah Useni allegedly made “a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support a claim over the London property.
The charge alleges conspiracy, forgery, personation and related offences under various provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009. One count states that the defendants “conspired amongst yourselves to use as genuine a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani to facilitate your claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.”
The federal government further alleges that Ponfa Useni falsely personated a fictitious individual named Tali Shani and executed a Power of Attorney in that assumed capacity, while Ozekhome allegedly abetted the act by executing documents tied to the disputed property.
The matter is expected to proceed before the FCT high court as the new charges move forward.
