The Federal Government has instituted a fresh 12-count charge against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a day after withdrawing a three-count case previously filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to a charge sheet dated February 24, 2026, and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the new case was filed before the FCT High Court in Abuja. Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, are listed as defendants. The late General Jeremiah Useni is also named in several counts.
The charges allege that in 2020, the defendants conspired to procure a false Nigerian international passport (No. A07535463) in the name of Tali Shani. Prosecutors claim the document was intended to support a claim to a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, contrary to Sections 96 and 364 of the Penal Code Law, 2009.
The counts further allege that between 2020 and 2025, the defendants made and used the allegedly forged passport, forged related documents—including a May 4, 2023 letter seeking authentication of the passport purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service—and presented them as genuine to advance their property claim.
Useni is specifically accused of falsely personating “Tali Shani” and executing a Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020. Ozekhome is alleged to have abetted the personation and jointly executed documents connected to the disputed UK property.
Additional counts accuse Ozekhome of having control of the London property and £18,000 in rental proceeds believed to have been unlawfully obtained, in violation of Section 319A of the Penal Code Law.
The offences outlined in the charge include conspiracy, forgery, personation, cheating by personation, abetment, and possession of property suspected to be unlawfully obtained. The matter is expected to proceed before the FCT High Court.
