The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday adjourned the arraignment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, to February 24, 2026, following the takeover of the prosecution by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Chief Ozekhome is standing trial over a three-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026.
The charges allege that in August 2021, the senior advocate received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, from one Mr. Shani Tali, knowing that the transaction constituted a felony, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Ozekhome is also accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of the London property during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
At the resumed proceedings, Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, announced his appearance on behalf of the AGF and informed the court that the Attorney-General had formally exercised his constitutional powers to take over the prosecution from the ICPC.
Oyedepo said the decision was taken to ensure diligent prosecution and to enhance public confidence in the administration of criminal justice.
He added that the intervention was in line with the Attorney-General’s constitutional mandate to ensure that prosecutions are conducted lawfully, professionally, and with due regard to the rights of all parties, noting that the move would also strengthen collaboration among prosecuting agencies.
The DPP subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable the Ministry of Justice to review the case file.
Responding, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the ICPC’s High-Profile Prosecution Department, told the court that the commission had no objection to the takeover.
“We have no objection. The ICPC will cooperate fully with the Attorney-General, having carried out the investigation,” he said.
Chief Ozekhome is represented by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), while Akponimisingha appeared for the ICPC.
After hearing from all parties, Justice U.P. Kekemeke granted the application and adjourned the matter to February 24, 2026, for arraignment.
The charges are as follows:
Count One: That you, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M), 68 years, of No. 53 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout, at a place outside Nigeria, to wit: London, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly received a house located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, purportedly given to you by Mr. Shani Tali, knowing that the act constituted a felony, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two: That you, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M), 68 years, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout in Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made a false document, to wit: Nigerian passport No. A07535463 bearing the name of Mr. Shani Tali, with intent to use same to support a claim of ownership of a property known as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006.
Count Three: That you, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M), 68 years, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout in Abuja, dishonestly used as genuine a false Nigerian passport No. A07535463 bearing the name of Mr. Shani Tali to support a claim of ownership of a property known as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, knowing or having reason to believe that the document was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006.
In this article