EFCC Arrests Ozekhome Over Alleged Role In London Property Dispute

• EFCC Arrests Ozekhome Over Alleged Role In London Property Dispute
• Court earlier struck out forgery charge before arrest
• Federal Government files fresh 12 count charge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, over his alleged involvement in a controversial property dispute in the United Kingdom known as the “Tali Shani affair.”

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the arrest came shortly after a Federal Capital Territory High Court struck out an earlier three count forgery charge filed against him. The charge had initially been instituted on January 16 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission before it was taken over by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on January 26.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Peter Kekemeke, counsel to the Attorney General, Rotimi Oyedepo, applied to withdraw the charge, stating that the AGF’s office needed time to review and consolidate issues involving different investigating agencies. The court subsequently struck out the case. However, the EFCC later arrested Ozekhome.

The dispute centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The matter was filed before the UK First tier Tribunal, Property Chamber, Land Registration, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani listed as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent. The late retired lieutenant general, Jeremiah Useni, was also named.

Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021. A witness identified as “Mr Tali Shani” testified that he held powers of attorney over the property and transferred it to Ozekhome. However, documents presented by those claiming to represent “Ms Tali Shani” were reportedly found to be fake, and the tribunal dismissed all claims, holding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

Meanwhile, the federal government has filed a fresh 12 count charge at the FCT High Court, alleging conspiracy, forgery, personation and the use of a false Nigerian international passport to support a claim to the London property, contrary to the Penal Code Law 2009.