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Just in: Mike Ozekhome in EFCC , faces new charges over alleged London property scam
Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) and is set to face fresh charges.
This development comes after his recent arraignment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court over alleged fraud connected to a property in London, United Kingdom.
However, the case was dismissed earlier on Tuesday after the Federal Government filed an application to withdraw the suit.
“Ozekhome is in EFCC detention and is set to face fresh charges,” a top intelligence source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama had struck out a three-count forgery charge filed against Ozekhome by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The charge, filed on January 16, bordered on allegations that Ozekhome forged documents in relation to a property dispute in the U.K.
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, took over the prosecution of the case on January 26.
The criminal case, filed under Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/010/26, was instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Ozekhome, aged 68.
Before the withdrawal of the suit, the SAN faced three counts bordering on the alleged receipt of property abroad, forgery, and fraudulent use of false documents.
Count One alleged that in August 2021, while outside Nigeria in London, Ozekhome received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, allegedly given to him by one Mr. Shani Tali. Prosecutors claimed the act constituted a felony under Section 13, punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two accused Ozekhome of making a false document in Abuja during the same period, allegedly forging a Nigerian passport numbered A07535463 in the name of Shani Tali, with the intent to support a claim of ownership over the London property.
The offence was said to contravene Section 363, punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, CAP 532, Laws of the FCT, Abuja, 2006.
Count Three alleged that the defendant dishonestly used the falsified passport as a genuine document to substantiate ownership claims over the property, despite knowing it to be false, an offence under Section 366, punishable under Section 364 of the same Penal Code.
The charge sheet was signed on January 16, 2026, by Dr. Akponimisingha and Ngozi Onwuka, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC headquarters, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.
At a previous sitting, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel for the AGF, told the court that the matter would be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.
When the case came up on Tuesday for arraignment, Oyedepo instead moved an application seeking to withdraw the charge.
He informed the court that the office of the AGF required time to review and consolidate issues cutting across different investigating agencies, adding that this would help strengthen the case.
Following the application, the presiding judge, Peter Kekemeke, struck out the suit.
The arraignment followed a dramatic ruling by the UK’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in September 2025, which held that the disputed London property belonged to the estate of the late General Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator, and senior military officer.
The dispute over the property involved Ozekhome and Useni. The matter was filed in the UK under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent.
The property, purchased in 1993 and registered under the name “Tali Shani,” became the subject of prolonged litigation after questions arose over the true identity of the registered owner.
In a ruling delivered by Judge Ewan Paton, the tribunal dismissed claims by Ozekhome and individuals presenting themselves as “Mr.” and “Ms. Tali Shani,” describing them as impostors with no legitimate claim to the property.
Ozekhome was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in August 2021 in the Maitama area of Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court.
The property was claimed by ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other. Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while lawyers for ‘Ms Shani’ insisted she was the rightful owner.
At the tribunal, ‘Mr Tali Shani’ testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent. He asserted ownership from 1993 and said he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner”.
However, witnesses for Ms Tali Shani tendered several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport and phone number, to establish ownership.
The tribunal found the documents to be fake and dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed, and held that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.
According to the tribunal, General Useni had used the false name “Tali Shani” to conceal offshore assets. It concluded that he was the true beneficial owner of the property.
“I find that a large number of documents in this case have been produced or procured by forgery or deception,” Judge Paton ruled, citing fake identity documents, fraudulent witness statements, forged medical letters, and fabricated burial notices.
“The real owner, via a false name, was General Jeremiah Useni,” the tribunal concluded.
Sahara Reporters
PETROAN said it summoned an emergency meeting with its National Executive Council after the NMDPRA raised the fuel under-dispensing issue.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members nationwide to immediately inspect their dispensing meters following concerns raised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over under-dispensing of petroleum products at retail outlets.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme.
He said the association summoned an emergency meeting with its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the NMDPRA raised the issue, with the meeting lasting until about 10 pm.
“PETRON circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible,” Gillis-Harry said.
He added that several members had already begun inspecting their equipment, stressing that faulty meters could result in either under-dispensing or over-dispensing.
“Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, recalling that he had previously lost money in his own retail business because a faulty meter was dispensing more fuel than customers paid for.
Gillis-Harry assured motorists that PETROAN members would continue to ensure that customers receive the quantity of fuel displayed on the pump.
“But I can tell you that PETRON members will, at all times, insist on making sure that they sell their products one litre for one litre,” he said.
The PETROAN President also urged motorists to pay attention to the quantity displayed on dispensing meters while buying fuel and to request receipts for their purchases.
He explained that customers should know the capacity of their vehicle’s fuel tank and compare it with the quantity displayed on the dispenser.
“Oftentimes, we educate our staff to call the attention of the patron to check the meter while it is being dispensed. And also to get the customer to check after the product has been dispensed,” he said.
According to him, PETROAN also works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the NMDPRA to ensure that dispensing meters remain functional and accurate.
“PETRON consistently works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and also the NMDPRA. These are the two regulatory authorities that ensure that our meters are functional. And they are up to date and accurate,” he said.
The NMDPRA has warned filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, with outlets found short-changing consumers liable to sanctions, including the revocation of their operating licences.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN had taken the regulator’s concerns seriously and had begun working with its members to address any possible faults.
“But we took what the NMDPRA called our attention to yesterday very seriously. And we already started working on that,” he said.
Channels
TEHRAN — Millions of Iranian children returned to classrooms on Wednesday as schools across the country reopened after months of disruption linked to the war and security situation in the region.
Parents accompanied their children to school, with girls arriving in uniforms and mandatory headscarves, as the new academic year began in Tehran and other parts of Iran.
The reopening follows months of uncertainty after classes were suspended following the outbreak of the conflict on February 28. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in the southern city of Minab, where a school was struck during the conflict, killing dozens of people, including children.
Iranian officials said the tragedy had cast a shadow over preparations for the new school year, with authorities taking steps to mark the return of students while remembering those killed.
In Minab on Wednesday, Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology, Hossein Afshin, rang the school bell at a primary school to officially signal the start of the new academic term.
The traditional bell-ringing ceremony is normally associated with the president and forms part of nationwide celebrations welcoming approximately 16.5 million Iranian children back to school.
A separate ceremony featuring President Masoud Pezeshkian was held two days earlier this year, before the Iranian leader travelled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The reopening represents a return to normal educational activities after months in which the conflict disrupted daily life and forced schools to close in affected areas.
For many families, however, the first day back to school carries mixed emotions, coming after a period marked by military attacks, deaths and widespread disruption.
The government has sought to maintain the annual school-opening tradition despite the difficult circumstances, while officials have continued to commemorate victims of the conflict.
The new academic year will now see millions of Iranian students resume lessons as authorities attempt to restore regular schooling following the prolonged disruption.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, has fundamentally redefined infrastructure development across the nation’s capital.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja, while addressing newsmen after he inspected some ongoing road projects designed to de-congest traffic and unlock development across the territory.
The minister inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road SI, from Ring Road II to Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) in Kaura District and Collector Road C2 in Life Camp to Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way).
He also inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road N16 from Ring Road II to Ring Road III and the Jereton Mariere Street by the Apo Legislative Quarters in Gudu District, as well as the ongoing remodeling and renovation of the IBB Golf Course.
“We are happy because we can see that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has redefined infrastructure as far as the FCT is concern,” Wike said.
Expressing satisfaction with the pace of work and quality of execution, the minister said that the administration remained on track to deliver the projects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He particularly expressed optimism that the Arterial Road N16 would be completed as scheduled, in spite of the complex terrain and heavy bridge construction on the road corridor.
He noted that in spite of the difficult geography, the firm guaranteed delivery by the first week of January.
“If that N16 job is completed, obviously, the entire area will be a different thing altogether. That is a very huge infrastructure landmark,” he said.
Speaking on the renovation of the IBB Golf Course, the minister reaffirmed that the club would be fully operational and ready to host major tournaments by November.
Addressing financial backings for the ongoing projects, Wike said that the 2026 capital budget had hit 60 per cent performance.
He added that in spite of initial delays in budget release that briefly affected contractor payments, funding flow had stabilised, enabling contractors to work at full capacity.
He dismissed political rhetoric ahead of the upcoming election cycle, while advising political office seekers to focus on presenting their records to voters rather than engaging in distractions.
Fuel Under-Dispensing: PETROAN Orders Members To ‘Check’ Meters Nationwide
Kwankwaso Blames Tinubu’s Fuel Subsidy Removal for Nigeria’s Economic Crisis
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