Ozekhome, Useni Face new Charges Over UK Property
Last update: February 24, 2026
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Nigeria files 12-Count charge against Ozekhome over london property..
Nigeria’s Federal Government has filed a fresh 12-count charge against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, over alleged conspiracy, forgery, personation and unlawful control of a property in the United Kingdom, court documents showed.
The charge, filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accused the defendants of forging a Nigerian International Passport and other documents to support a claim to a property at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.
The late General Jeremiah Useni was named in several counts as a co-conspirator.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 in Abuja to forge Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service, with intent to use it to support their claim to the London property.
Counts 1 and 2 alleged that the defendants agreed to commit an illegal act by forging the passport and subsequently making the false document between May 30, 2020 and 2021, contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 364.
Count 3 accused them of conspiring in 2022 to use the alleged forged passport as genuine, while Count 4 alleged they dishonestly used the document as genuine between 2023 and 2025.
Counts 5 and 7 accused Useni of false personation and cheating by personation, alleging that on or about May 30, 2020, he falsely presented himself as “Tali Shani,” described as a fictitious person, and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in that name in connection with the property claim.
Ozekhome was accused in Counts 6 and 8 of abetting the alleged offences by jointly executing the Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, with the purported fictitious person.
In Count 9, the prosecution alleged that Ozekhome, in 2022 in Abuja, had under his control the London property, reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained by the late Useni using the fictitious name.
Count 10 further alleged that Ozekhome had under his control £18,000, said to be part of rent accrued from the property and reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
Counts 11 and 12 alleged that the defendants conspired in 2023 to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr Tali Shani,” dated May 4, 2023, and purported it to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support their claim.
The offences were said to be contrary to various provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364 and 366.
The charge was signed by Oyedepo Iseoluwa Rotimi, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and A.R. Tahir, Chief State Counsel, for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In an affidavit deposed to by a litigation officer in the ministry, the prosecution said investigations had substantially concluded and that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.
Ozekhome and Useni are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A date for arraignment is expected to be fixed by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
