By Danjuma Amodu | January 19, 2026
The Federal Government has filed a three‑count charge against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, alleging that he knowingly forged and used a false Nigerian passport (A07535463) in the name of “Mr Shani Tali” to support a claim of ownership of 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was lodged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, head of the ICPC’s high‑profile prosecution department, and Ngozi Onwuka, assistant chief legal officer, on behalf of the Attorney‑General of the Federation.
Count One accuses Ozekhome of directly receiving the London house from “Mr Shani Tali” in August 2021, an act said to violate Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count Two alleges that, while acting as a legal practitioner, he created the false passport with intent to commit fraud, contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, CAP 532, FCT Abuja, 2006.
Count Three claims he dishonestly used the same forged passport as genuine to support his ownership claim, contravening Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the same Penal Code.
The prosecution intends to call investigators from the ICPC and a representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, and will tender as exhibits the London First‑Tier Tribunal’s judgment (case REF/2023/0155), extra‑judicial statements, correspondence, and passport data relating to “Shani Tali”. No trial date has been set yet.
The dispute over 79 Randall Avenue has been a long‑running saga involving Ozekhome, the late retired Lieutenant‑General Jeremiah Useni, and competing claims from “Mr Shani Tali” and “Ms Tali Shani”. The UK tribunal previously dismissed all claims, finding that every document presented on behalf of “Ms Tali Shani” was fraudulent and concluding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed, with the true owner being Useni through a fictitious identity.
