By Anthony Ochela, Abuja
Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has taken over the prosecution of the forgery case brought against Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.
As a result, Ozekhome’s planned arraignment yesterday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on the three-count charge filed against him by the ICPC did not take place
When the case was called, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) said he was representing the AGF and informed the court of the AGF’s decision to take over the case from the ICPC.
Oyedepo said the AGF was acting under his powers as provided in Section 174 of the Constitution in a collaborative effort with ICPC.
The DPPF said the AGF’s decision was informed by the need to ensure that the prosecution complies with the highest standard of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence and compliance with due process of law.
He added that Fagbemi was guided by public interest in order to instill confidence, fairness and competence in criminal justice.
Oyedepo said inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption was also considered by the AGF in taking over the case.
He assured the court that the right of the defendant would be protected, adding that no party would suffer any injustice.
Oyedepo subsequently asked the court to take judicial notice of the formal take over of the trial by the office of the AGF.
He then sought an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office retrieve the case file from the ICPC, review same and decide on the next steps to take.
ICPC’s lawyer, Osuebeni Akpomisingha did not object to the take over of the case by the AGF.
Akpomisingha assured that ICPC, as the agency that investigated the case, will fully cooperate with the AGF’s office in the prosecution of the case.
Aformer AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who led a team of lawyers comprising 15 SANs for the defence, did not object to the take over of the case by Fagbemi.
Upon an application for adjournment by Oyedepo, which was not opposed by Agabi, Justice Peter Kekemeke adjourned till February 24 for arraignment.
Counts in the charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 read: “That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.
“That you Chief Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by Mr Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.
“That you Chief Ozekhome, SAN (m) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria did make a false document, to wit: Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Tali with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX with intent to commit fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006
‘That you Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria dishonestly used as genuine, a false Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Tali to support claim of ownership of property known and described a s 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX when you had reason to believe that the said document was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.”
