…Defendants plead not guilty, get N10m bail
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, and Ponfa Useni, son of deceased former FCT Minister, Jerry Useni, were on Friday arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and unlawful property claims.
The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF), accuses the defendants of falsifying documents — including a Nigerian international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney — to support a claim of ownership over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences occurred between May 2020 and 2021 in Abuja. The charge claims that the defendants created a false passport in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to strengthen their claim over the London property, which is said to have been unlawfully acquired by the late General Jeremiah Useni.
The prosecution further alleges that Ponfa Useni falsely assumed the identity of “Tali Shani,” described as a fictitious person, and executed an irrevocable power of attorney in that name. Ozekhome is accused of aiding and abetting the impersonation by acting as a party to the power of attorney to facilitate the property claim.
In addition, the charge alleges that Ozekhome had control of the London property in 2022 despite reasonable suspicion that it had been unlawfully obtained under a fictitious identity.
Following the arraignment, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) urged the court to grant accelerated hearing, noting that a prompt trial would serve the interest of justice and the legal profession.
Oyedepo confirmed that bail applications had been filed by the defendants and stated that the prosecution did not oppose bail, provided adequate conditions were imposed to ensure their attendance at trial.
Counsel to Ozekhome, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), requested bail on self-recognition, citing his client’s status as a senior member of the bar. Counsel to Useni, F. R. Onoja (SAN), sought bail on liberal terms, proposing that Useni’s wife — a legal practitioner — stand as surety.
In her ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji noted that the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and had complied with its terms.
The court granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety each. The surety must provide evidence of ownership of property within the FCT. The defendants were also ordered to deposit their international passports with the court.
Justice Oji directed that if the bail conditions are not met by Monday, the defendants would be remanded in custody. She granted the request for accelerated hearing and adjourned the case to March 13, April 15 and April 16 for trial.
