Dare Babalola
Prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, are facing a 12-count charge of forgery, conspiracy, and personation over a disputed property in London, UK.
The charge was filed before the FCT High Court sitting in Abuja.
The defendants, who are accused of attempting to claim ownership of a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, allegedly used a false Nigerian International Passport with the name Tali Shani to support their claim.
According to the charge sheet, Ozekhome and Useni, along with the late General Jeremiah Useni, conspired to create and use the fake passport, which they purported was issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Count 1 of the charge reads, “That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes in the year 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act, to wit: making a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim of a property, lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.”
Another count, Number 5, states, “That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court falsely personated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character made a Power of Attorney wherein you held yourself out as Tali Shani and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 179 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under the same section of the same Law.”
The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedele Iseoluwa Rotimi (SAN), alleged that the defendants’ actions are contrary to various sections of the Penal Code Law 2009, including sections 96, 363, 364, 366, and 319A.
The case is expected to be heard in the Abuja court, with the defendants facing serious penalties if convicted, including imprisonment and fines.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.
Ozekhome, a respected member of the Nigerian Bar Association, has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the economy and has represented several high-profile clients in the past.
The trial is being closely watched by the legal community and is expected to have significant implications for the defendants and the property market in Nigeria and the UK.
