The Federal Government has scheduled the arraignment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, January 26, 2026, over alleged fraud involving a property in London, United Kingdom.
A hearing notice obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday states that the arraignment will take place in Courtroom 4 of the High Court.
In the charges, Ozekhome is listed as the sole defendant, while the Federal Republic of Nigeria is named as the plaintiff. The prosecution will be led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), with Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the ICPC’s High Profile Prosecution Department, heading the legal team.
The hearing notice directs that the matter “will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for Monday, the 26th day of January, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.” It also instructs that any party seeking an adjournment must apply promptly and provide supporting evidence. Parties intending to compel witnesses must give reasonable notice.
According to Naija News, Ozekhome faces a three-count charge filed by the ICPC on January 16.
- Count One alleges that in August 2021, in London, Ozekhome received a property at House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, purportedly from Mr. Shani Tali, knowing that the act constituted a felony. The offence is said to violate Section 13 and is punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
- Count Two alleges that Ozekhome, while acting as a legal practitioner, created a false Nigerian passport in the name of Mr. Shani Tali (Passport No. A07535463) in August 2021 to support a fraudulent claim of ownership of the London property. This is contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, Laws of the FCT, Abuja.
- Count Three alleges that Ozekhome knowingly used the same false passport to substantiate the ownership claim, contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
The case followed a petition to the ICPC by Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, which reportedly referenced a British court judgment implicating Ozekhome and others in conspiring with corrupt Nigerian officials to obtain forged identity documents and fraudulently claim ownership of the property in North London.
The ICPC confirmed that it launched an investigation after a London property tribunal delivered a judgment allegedly linking Ozekhome and others to a scheme involving fraud and forgery.
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