The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Friday, February 27, 2026, granted bail in the sum of ₦10 million each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome and his co-defendant Ponfa Useni shortly after their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on alleged forgery of documents.
The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), accused the defendants of knowingly presenting forged documents including a Nigerian international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney to support a claim of ownership over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, allegedly unlawfully procured by the late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd).
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Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts when the charge was read to them. Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) did not oppose the bail applications moved by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and F.R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni.
In a brief ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of ₦10 million each with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must own property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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The court further ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry as part of the bail conditions.
Justice Oji held that, since proceedings were conducted on a Friday, the defendants may return home if unable to perfect their bail conditions immediately, but must report back to court on Monday to finalise the bail terms, failing which they would be remanded in prison custody.
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The controversy centres on a disputed property in London that has been the subject of a UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration case (REF/2023/0155). Ozekhome claimed he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while competing claims were made by “Ms Tali Shani.” The tribunal ultimately dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed and that documents tendered were fake.
The AGF took over the case from the ICPC on January 26, 2026. The forgery charge was withdrawn earlier this week, paving the way for the EFCC’s involvement and the fresh criminal charge.
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Ozekhome’s arrest occurred shortly after the ICPC charge was struck out, sparking widespread debate about the sequence of events and possible inter-agency coordination.
The case has now been adjourned to a later date for hearing of pending applications and trial proper.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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