Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer, was scheduled to be arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery and the use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has formally taken over the prosecution of Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the alleged fraud case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer, was scheduled to be arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery and the use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
However, proceedings could not commence on Monday after the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) notified the court of its decision to assume control of the prosecution.
When the matter was called, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, announced his appearance on behalf of the Attorney-General and informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the takeover was effected pursuant to Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The provision empowers the Attorney-General to institute, take over, and conduct criminal prosecutions in the public interest.
Addressing the court, Oyedepo explained that the decision to take over the case from the ICPC was informed by the need for inter-agency collaboration in reviewing the case file to ensure that the prosecution meets the highest standards of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence, and strict adherence to due process.
He stated that the intervention was guided solely by public interest and the constitutional duty of the Attorney-General to strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system by ensuring that prosecutions conducted in the name of the Federation are fair, competent, and legally robust.
Oyedepo assured the court that the defendant’s rights would be fully respected, the prosecution would be conducted with utmost professionalism, and no party would suffer any prejudice as a result of the takeover.
He added that the court’s time would be judiciously utilised and described the move as part of prosecutorial oversight and inter-agency cooperation aimed at enhancing the fight against corruption and related offences.
He, therefore, urged the court to take judicial notice of the takeover and sought an adjournment to enable the OAGF retrieve and thoroughly review the case file from the ICPC before determining the next line of action.
Earlier, the Head of the High-Profile Prosecution Department of the ICPC, Dr. Osuebeni Akpomesingha Akpos, announced his appearance for the prosecution.
A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, led a team of 15 Senior Advocates of Nigeria in representing Ozekhome, the sole defendant in the matter.
Counsel for the ICPC did not oppose the takeover and assured the court of the Commission’s full cooperation, noting that the ICPC was the agency that investigated the case.
By consensus of counsel, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter to February 24, 2026, for arraignment.
In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, filed on January 16, 2026, in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ICPC accused Ozekhome of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, in support of a claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The Commission alleged that the senior lawyer gave false information, used forged documents, and attempted to deceive a public authority in the course of the proceedings.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021, partly in London and partly in Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
One of the counts alleges that Ozekhome directly received the London property, purportedly gifted to him by one Mr. Shani Tali, knowing that the act constituted a felony, contrary to Sections 13 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Another count accuses him of making a false Nigerian passport bearing the name of Mr. Shani Tali with intent to use it to support the ownership claim over the London property, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT, 2006.
He is further alleged to have dishonestly used the said passport as genuine, knowing it to be false, in furtherance of the alleged fraud.
Ozekhome has yet to enter a plea in the matter.