Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has taken prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome into custody in connection with a murky property dispute involving a fictitious identity known as “Tali Shani” and a London home worth fighting over.
The arrest came on the heels of a dramatic courtroom twist on Tuesday, when a Federal Capital Territory High Court struck out a forgery charge that had previously been filed against the fiery lawyer — only for EFCC operatives to swoop in and detain him moments after he walked free.
A House, a Ghost, and a Forged Passport
At the heart of the saga is a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which Ozekhome claims was gifted to him in 2021 by a man he identifies as “Mr. Tali Shani.” The dispute was litigated before a UK First-tier Tribunal, where a witness presenting himself as “Mr. Tali Shani” testified on Ozekhome’s behalf, claiming to have transferred ownership via a Power of Attorney.
But the tribunal wasn’t convinced. After examining documents submitted by both sides — including an obituary, a NIN card, and an ECOWAS passport — the tribunal declared all materials supporting the rival “Ms. Tali Shani” to be fake. More strikingly, it ruled that neither version of “Tali Shani” — male or female — actually exists. The case had also implicated retired Lieutenant-General Jeremiah Useni, now deceased, who was said to have managed the property on Tali Shani’s behalf.
The Nigerian Legal Battle
Back home, the federal government has now filed a sweeping 12-count charge against Ozekhome at the FCT High Court in Abuja, accusing him and co-defendant Ponfa Useni — alleged to be the real person behind the “Tali Shani” alias — of a coordinated scheme to fabricate an identity and use a forged Nigerian International Passport (No. A07535463) to support Ozekhome’s property claim in London.
The charges allege that between 2020 and 2025, Ozekhome, Ponfa Useni, and the late General Useni conspired to manufacture the Tali Shani persona, with Ponfa Useni impersonating the fictitious character to execute a Power of Attorney in Ozekhome’s favour. The offences are said to violate multiple sections of the Penal Code Law 2009, covering forgery, conspiracy, personation, and cheating.
An earlier three-count charge brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and later taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation was withdrawn on Tuesday, with the AGF’s office citing the need to consolidate evidence from multiple investigating agencies before proceeding — a move that cleared the way for the fresh, more comprehensive charges.
Ozekhome, known for his vocal defence of civil liberties and his high-profile legal battles, now finds himself on the other side of the dock in what is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s more bizarre legal sagas in recent memory.
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