The federal government has formally arraigned Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, son of the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Jeremiah Useni, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on a 12-count charge centred on alleged forgery and related offences.
The defendants face accusations of using a fake Nigerian passport and other falsified documents in connection with a long-standing dispute over property ownership in the United Kingdom, commonly referred to in legal circles as the Tali Shani affair.
This high-profile arraignment took place on Friday before Justice Chizoba Oji at the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, as part of ongoing efforts to address alleged fraudulent activities tied to the contested overseas asset.
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts preferred against them by the prosecution, vehemently denying any wrongdoing in the matter that has spanned several years.
Following the defendants’ plea of innocence to the allegations, the prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, SAN, applied for a trial date.
However, Ozekhome’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and counsel to his co-defendants, F. R. Onoja, pleaded for their release on bail, an application that was not opposed by the prosecution.
Consequently, Justice Orji granted the defendants bail in the sum of N10million each, with a surety each in the like sum.
The Court stressed that the sureties must be owners of landed property within the FCT, even as it ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports and not travel outside the country without permission.
Justice Orji noted that since the proceedings took place on a Friday, the defendants could go home if they were unable to perfect the bail conditions before the end of the day.
However, she ordered them to return to the court on Monday to fulfill the bail conditions, failing which they would be remanded in prison.
Court proceedings have been adjourned to allow for further hearings, with the matter expected to generate continued public and legal interest due to the stature of the individuals involved.
