The Federal Government has filed fresh criminal charges against Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over allegations of using a forged Nigerian passport in connection with a disputed property case in the United Kingdom.
According to court documents, the government instituted a 12-count charge against the senior lawyer on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The charges are said to stem from claims that Ozekhome allegedly presented or relied on falsified travel documents during proceedings linked to a property dispute outside Nigeria.
Also joined as a co-defendant in the case is Ponfa Useni, identified as the son of the late Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Prosecutors allege that both defendants were involved in actions connected to the alleged use of the forged passport, though full details of their respective roles are yet to be outlined in open court.
The new charges come months after a similar case against Ozekhome collapsed. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had earlier filed charges on the same allegations, but the case was struck out by the FCT High Court following the withdrawal of the charges by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The decision to refile the case has drawn attention within legal and political circles, as it raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the earlier withdrawal and the government’s renewed resolve to pursue the matter. Legal analysts note that the refiling suggests that prosecutors believe there is sufficient basis to proceed despite the earlier setback.
As of the time of this report, neither Mike Ozekhome nor the co-defendant has issued a public statement in response to the fresh charges. The case is expected to attract significant public interest due to Ozekhome’s stature in Nigeria’s legal profession and the international dimension of the allegations.
