The Federal Government, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has filed its proof of evidence, list of exhibits and witnesses ahead of the trial of senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/26, is being prosecuted on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation by the ICPC’s High Profile Prosecution Department, headed by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.
The charges stem from a petition linked to a judgment delivered by the United Kingdom First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber, Land Registration) in Case No. REF/2023/0155, concerning a disputed property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Following the tribunal’s ruling on September 11, 2025, the ICPC commenced an investigation into allegations surrounding the ownership of the London property and documents allegedly used by Ozekhome to support his claim. The commission submitted its proof of evidence to the court on January 16, 2026.
ICPC investigators Wakili Joshua Musa and Tosin Olayiwola are listed as principal witnesses and are expected to testify on how the petition was received, how the investigation was assigned by the ICPC Chairman, and how an investigation plan was developed and approved.
According to the filing, the investigators will tell the court that letters were written to banks, government agencies and private institutions to obtain relevant records. They will also testify on efforts to verify the authenticity of a Nigerian passport in the name of “Shani Tali,” allegedly used to support Ozekhome’s claim to the property, through the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The prosecution further listed the steps taken during the investigation, including obtaining a certified true copy of the UK tribunal judgment, recording extra-judicial statements from Ozekhome and other persons connected to the case, and compiling documentary exhibits.
A representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service is also expected to testify on the verification process carried out on the “Shani Tali” passport, the findings of that exercise and documents generated from it.
Exhibits listed by the prosecution include the UK tribunal judgment dated September 11, 2025, Ozekhome’s extra-judicial statement dated January 12, 2026, documents relating to interim forfeiture proceedings over the London property before a Federal High Court in Nigeria, a letter dated December 18, 2025, the data page of the disputed passport and any other documents to be obtained during the trial.
The ICPC listed six categories of witnesses, including the two investigators, ICPC officials Ebenezer Nduo and Blessing Monokpo, a Nigerian Immigration Service representative and other witnesses that may be subpoenaed.
The filing also referenced the UK tribunal proceedings conducted between June 2024 and September 2025, in which Tali Shani was listed as applicant and Ozekhome as respondent.
Ozekhome, 68, is facing three counts bordering on receiving property abroad, forgery and fraudulent use of false documents. He has been accused of allegedly receiving the London property in August 2021, forging a Nigerian passport in the name of Shani Tali to support ownership claims, and using the document despite allegedly knowing it was false.
The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the charges.
