Forfeiture looms as court sets Jan 26 for Useni-Ozekhome property case

A federal high court in Abuja has scheduled January 26 to deliver its ruling on the final forfeiture of a London property allegedly linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court took the decision after no individual or representative of Useni’s estate appeared within the statutory 14-day period to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the federal government.

The case followed an ex parte application filed in late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which sought an interim forfeiture and preservation order over the property, alleging that it was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. On November 28, Justice Binta Nyako granted the interim forfeiture order and directed the CCB to publish the order in a national newspaper to invite any interested party to establish legitimate ownership. The disputed property is located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. Those named in the matter include Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria, and Useni, a retired lieutenant-general.

The dispute had earlier been taken before the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration in the United Kingdom under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent. Claims to the property were made by both a “Ms Tali Shani” and Ozekhome.

Ozekhome maintained that the property was gifted to him in 2021 by “Mr Tali Shani”, while lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner. A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified in support of Ozekhome, claiming ownership of the property since 1993 and stating that he later appointed Useni as his property manager.

However, witnesses for “Ms Tali Shani” tendered documents, including an obituary announcement, National Identification Number card, ECOWAS passport and phone records, to support their claim. The tribunal found all the documents submitted on behalf of “Ms Tali Shani” to be fake. In its ruling, the tribunal dismissed all claims to the property, concluding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

Meanwhile, the federal government has filed criminal charges against Ozekhome over alleged forgery and use of false documents in relation to the disputed London property. The three-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed before a federal high court in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on behalf of the attorney-general of the federation.

The charges accuse Ozekhome of allegedly receiving the property knowing that the act constituted a felony, forging a Nigerian passport in the name of “Mr Shani Tali” to support ownership claims, and using the allegedly false document as genuine, offences punishable under relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the Penal Code laws of the Federal Capital Territory.