By Adesina Soyooye
“Immigration: “Passport (No) A07535463 Was Never Utilized, No Record Of Holder In Database”
Prominent and respected Senior Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, is passing through difficult times. Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has been charged, by the Federal Government with a three counts of criminal offences at aHigh Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The charges involve allegations of corruption and the forgery of documents related to a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Ozekhome, 68, is confronted with the offences filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/2026, dated 16th January 2026.
Count 1 of the charges
alleges that Chief Ozekhome, in August 2021, or thereabou,t at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court, directly received House 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to him by one Mr. Shani Tali, an act he knew constitutes a felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count 2 alleges that Chief Ozekhome, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did make a false document—a Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr. Shani Tali—with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known as “79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX” with intent to commit fraud, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.
Count 3 states that Chief Ozekhome, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, dishonestly used as genuine, a false Nigerian passport, A07535463, bearing the name of Mr. Shani Tali, to support claim of ownership of property known as “79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX” when he had reason to believe that the said document was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Head, High Profile Prosecution Department, NGOZI ONWUKA – Assistant Chief Legal Officer, ICPC Headquarters, signed the charges for the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation.
The case, as revealed by Court documents was triggered by a judgment of the First-Tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Land Registration) in London, Case Number REF/2023/0155 dated 11/9/2025, involving Tali Shani (Applicants) versus Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (Respondent) over the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX (Title number: MX 117803).
The hearings by the Tribunal were held on 11th and 12th June 2024, at 10 Alfred Place, London, and on 29th and 30th July 2025, and 2nd September 2025, by Cloud Video Platform. Judge Ewan Paton was in charge of the case.
From the “Proofs of Evidence” document, Mr. Wakili Joshua Musa, an employee/investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is billed to testify that the Commission received a petition on the judgment by the London First-Tier Tribunal in respect of House 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
“The investigator will tell the court that the judgment-related petitioner was assigned to his team for discreet investigation, and that his team developed an investigation strategy which was approved by the Honourable Chairman of the Commission.
“The team wrote letters to banks and other relevant government and private institutions to retrieve documents relevant to the allegations in the judgment-related petition. They also received passport registration information from the Nigerian Immigration Service with respect to the international passport of Shani Tali allegedly used by the defendant to support his claim for the property in London.
“The investigator will further tell the court that his team obtained a certified true copy of the judgment at the London First-Tier Tribunal and will provide comprehensive details of the facts of the case investigated along with his team members.
A critical piece of evidence comes from the Nigeria Immigration Service in a letter dated 18th December 2025, addressed to the Honourable Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The letter, with reference NIS/HQ/I&C/INT/5164/, stated:
“I am directed to convey the compliments of the Comptroller General to the Honourable Chairman and wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter referenced: ICPC/OPS/FID/STF.1/2188 dated 5th November, 2025 as well as to inform on the following findings:
“1: Passport booklet number A07535463 was never utilized due to a defect and, consequently, there is no record of a holder for this passport number in our database.
“ii: Passport numbers are uniquely assigned and are never duplicated.
Preliminary findings indicate that the passport booklet had personal data unlawfully superimposed on it. Furthermore, there are numerous inconsistencies on the data-page, suggesting significant irregularities in its production.
“The foregoing is respectfully submitted for your information and further necessary action, please.”
IA OZIGI, pcc+, fsl, mnlm, inspsp, Assistant Comptroller General I/C (Investigation/Compliance) signed the letter for the Comptroller General of Immigration Service.
A copy of the disputed Nigerian passport bearing number A07535463, showing the name “SHANI TALI” with date of birth 02 APR/AVR 73, place of birth “PLATEAU ABEOKUTA,” and date of issue 02 JUL/JUL 21, expiry date 01 JUL/JUL 26 was attached to it.
According to reports,
“The court documents also include an extra-judicial statement from Chief Mike Ozekhome dated 12/01/2026, in which he provides his account of events. In the statement with caution (ICPC Statement No. 003648), Ozekhome gives his version of how he came to be involved with the London property and addresses the allegations against him.
“The prosecution has listed the following witnesses to testify:
Mr. Joshua Wakili – C/o ICPC Headquarters, Abuja
Mr. Tosin Olayiwola – C/o ICPC Headquarters, Abuja
Mr. Ebenezer Nduo – C/o ICPC Headquarters, Abuja
Mr. Blessing Monokpo – C/o ICPC Headquarters, Abuja.
“Representative of Nigeria Immigration Service – C/o ICPC Headquarters, Abuja
Any other vital witness by way of subpoena or filing additional list of witnesses
The prosecution has listed the following exhibits:
Case number REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated 11/9/2025
Extra-judicial Statement of the Defendant dated 12/01/2026
Interim forfeiture proceeding in respect of House 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX at the Federal High Court
Letter dated 18/12/2025
Data page of Shani Tali
Any other relevant documents being awaited relating to the case”
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