The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) for his alleged role in the “Tali Shani affair,” a disputed property case in the United Kingdom.
Ozekhome was picked up shortly after a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court struck out an earlier forgery charge against him. Sources say he’s due in court soon on new charges, separate from a fresh 12-count indictment filed by the federal government this week over the same London property at 79 Randall Avenue, NW2 7SX.
The dispute played out in the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) under case REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent. The late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni was also implicated.
Ozekhome claimed he received the property as a 2021 gift from “Mr. Tali Shani.” A witness identifying as Mr. Tali Shani backed him, saying he owned it since 1993, held power of attorney, and had appointed Useni as manager. But lawyers for “Ms. Tali Shani” submitted documents like an obituary, National ID, ECOWAS passport, and more to prove her ownership. The tribunal ruled them all fake, dismissed the claims, and declared neither Mr. nor Ms. Tali Shani existed.
In Nigeria, the ICPC first charged Ozekhome on January 16 with three counts of using forged documents, including a fake Nigerian passport, in the UK proceedings. The Attorney-General’s office took over on January 26.
The new 12-count charge accuses Ozekhome, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), and the late Useni of crimes from May 2020 to 2021, including conspiracy, forgery, and personation. They allegedly created and used fake Nigerian passport No. A07535463 in Tali Shani’s name to claim the property. Ponfa Useni is said to have impersonated the fictional Tali Shani to sign a power of attorney, with Ozekhome abetting via related documents. The case heads to FCT High Court in Abuja.
