FG Drops Forgery, Fraud Charges Against Mike Ozekhome in London Property Dispute

 

The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the criminal charge filed against constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) over allegations of forgery, fraud, and the use of false documents in connection with a property dispute in the United Kingdom.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), instructed the withdrawal of the case on Tuesday during proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Ozekhome had been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a three-count charge bordering on property forgery. Prosecutors accused the 68-year-old senior lawyer of knowingly presenting forged documents—including a purported Nigerian international passport—to support his claim of ownership over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before a London First-Tier Tribunal.

The allegations stemmed from a contentious dispute linked to the late General Jeremiah Useni, involving claims that the property was received corruptly or through fraudulent means.

At the resumed court sitting before Justice Peter Kekemeke, counsel to the prosecution informed the court that he had received directives from the AGF to withdraw the charge. The withdrawal was effected pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which empowers the AGF to discontinue criminal proceedings.

The court accepted the withdrawal, effectively ending the federal prosecution against Ozekhome in this matter. No reasons were publicly detailed in court for the AGF's decision to discontinue the case, though earlier reports indicated the AGF had taken over the matter from the ICPC for review before the withdrawal.

Ozekhome's legal team welcomed the development, describing it as a vindication of their client's position. The senior advocate has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the property matter was a legitimate civil dispute rather than a criminal one.

The case had drawn significant attention due to Ozekhome's stature as a leading constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate in Nigeria. It followed a UK tribunal judgment in September (year not fully specified in initial reports) that reportedly touched on related issues.

With the federal charge now dropped, the matter appears resolved at the national level, though any parallel civil proceedings in the UK—if ongoing—remain unaffected by this development.

This is a developing story, and further details may emerge from official statements by the AGF's office or the ICPC.