A big-shot lawyer landed in deep trouble over a fancy London home. The ICPC charged Senior Advocate Mike Ozekhome for using a fake passport to claim a property tied to the late General Jerry Useni, a former FCT Minister. The house on Randall Avenue was supposedly a gift for legal work.
Ozekhome claimed a man named Tali Shani gave him the place. A UK tribunal later found that the person did not exist. Authorities say the lawyer presented a fraudulent Nigerian passport for this fictional benefactor during proceedings. Immigration records show the passport number was defective and never assigned to anyone.
The anti-corruption commission filed three separate charges against the lawyer. These include receiving property linked to a felony and creating a false document to support ownership claims. Ozekhome maintains that the property was a legitimate payment for handling Useni's election petition cases across multiple courts.
He stated the former minister could not afford legal fees and offered the London home instead. His defense claims all actions were legal and transparent. The case is set for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, though a hearing date is not yet scheduled.
Ozekhome claimed a man named Tali Shani gave him the place. A UK tribunal later found that the person did not exist. Authorities say the lawyer presented a fraudulent Nigerian passport for this fictional benefactor during proceedings. Immigration records show the passport number was defective and never assigned to anyone.
The anti-corruption commission filed three separate charges against the lawyer. These include receiving property linked to a felony and creating a false document to support ownership claims. Ozekhome maintains that the property was a legitimate payment for handling Useni's election petition cases across multiple courts.
He stated the former minister could not afford legal fees and offered the London home instead. His defense claims all actions were legal and transparent. The case is set for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, though a hearing date is not yet scheduled.
