NIS Says Ozekhome Submitted Fake Passport To Tribunal For North London Property

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has denied issuing a Passport for one Tali Shani who featured in evidence for Mike Ozekhome’s property dispute in North London at a London Tribunal, UK.

The NIS confirmed that the passport never existed, and the NIS disowned the letter, stressing that the said document was allegedly signed by “Abdulkadir Lawal,” who was described as an Assistant Legal Adviser of the NIS acting for the Comptroller-General.

The letter claimed to verify the authenticity of Tali Shani’s passport and attached a certified biodata page.

The NIS, however, stated that no such officer exists in its legal department and declared the letter invalid and unauthorized.

It also confirmed that the passport in question (A07535463) was stolen, never personalized, and had no legitimate holder in their records. Investigations revealed personal data had been unlawfully added to the passport, with multiple inconsistencies on the biodata page.

It would be recalled that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ozekhome, allegedly submitted a letter to a London tribunal as part of a claim over a North London property, which has however been declared fake.

The property at the center of the dispute, 79 Randall Avenue, was purchased in 1993 by the late Nigerian Army Lt. General and former FCT Minister, Jeremiah Useni, under a false identity, “Philips Bincan.” In 2021, Ozekhome reportedly tried to claim ownership through the UK Land Registry, alleging the property was gifted to him by someone claiming to be Tali Shani. The claim was challenged by Westfields Solicitors on behalf of the alleged original owner, Ms.Tali Shani.

In 2025, Judge Ewan Paton of the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) ruled against Ozekhome, describing his claim as a “contrived story” since the individual who presented as Shani had no legal right to the property. Ownership now rests with whoever secures probate over Useni’s estate in England.

Meanwhile, Nigerian anti-corruption agencies have taken action. The ICPC filed three criminal charges against Ozekhome in Abuja for allegedly receiving the property through fraud, creating a fake Nigerian passport, and using it to support the claim. The EFCC also arraigned Ozekhome and co-defendant Ponfa Useni on 12 counts of forgery and impersonation. Both pleaded not guilty and were granted ₦10 million bail each.

Additionally, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) secured an interim forfeiture order over the London property after no legitimate claimant came forward. They have since applied for a final forfeiture, arguing the property is likely proceeds of unlawful activity under Nigeria’s Proceeds of Crime Act, 2022.

Ozekhome maintains he explained the circumstances to the EFCC and acknowledged the UK tribunal ruling.