An Abuja High Court in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday granted bail to prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni in connection with an alleged property fraud case involving a London residence.
The duo is facing a 12-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF), primarily relating to allegations of forgery.
Earlier in the week, the Federal Government withdrew a separate three-count charge that had been instituted against Ozekhome by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, in a bid to assert ownership of a London property reportedly linked to the late General Jeremiah Useni. One of the charges accuses them of falsely creating Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 under the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to support claims over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During proceedings, defence counsel Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and F.R. Onoja, SAN, applied for bail on behalf of their clients. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object to the application.
In her ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10 million, with one surety each in like sum. The court specified that the sureties must own property within the FCT. The judge also ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the court.
Justice Oji noted that since the ruling was delivered on a Friday, the defendants may remain at home pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions. However, she directed them to perfect the bail by Monday or risk being remanded in custody.
The matter was adjourned until March 13 for commencement of trial.
The alleged offences are said to contravene Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT 2006.
