FG re-arraigns Mike Ozekhome over alleged forged passport in UK property case

The Federal Government has re-arraigned Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on fresh criminal charges over the alleged use of a forged Nigerian passport in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.

A 12-count charge was filed against Ozekhome at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, signalling renewed legal action following an earlier withdrawal of similar charges.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had initially arraigned Ozekhome on three counts of alleged fraud and forgery, which the FCT High Court subsequently struck out after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the prosecution.

The disputed property is reportedly located at 79 Randall Avenue, London, and prosecutors had alleged that Ozekhome used a forged Nigerian passport to support his claim of ownership. The case has drawn wide attention due to Ozekhome’s high profile in Nigeria’s legal community.

The AGF, through the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had earlier informed the court that the decision to assume control of the prosecution was taken under Section 174 of the Constitution.

According to the AGF, the move is aimed at ensuring that the case is handled with due diligence, efficiency, and compliance with legal standards, while safeguarding public interest and fostering inter-agency cooperation in anti-corruption efforts.

Oyedepo assured the court that Ozekhome’s rights would be protected during the review and that no party would suffer injustice. The court had struck out the ICPC’s charges to allow the AGF time to retrieve and examine the case file before pursuing further action.

Ozekhome’s legal team, led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), is expected to respond to the fresh charges in forthcoming court proceedings. Further updates on the trial and related legal developments are anticipated in the coming days.