An FCT High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail of N10 million each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, over an alleged property fraud involving a United Kingdom asset.
Justice Chizoba Orji ruled that each defendant must provide one surety resident in Abuja who owns verifiable landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The court also directed the defendants to deposit their passports.
The ruling followed bail applications moved by defence counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and S.R. Onoja. The defendants were arraigned on an amended 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and unlawful control of a UK property. Both men pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo, presented an amended charge dated February 25, 2026, replacing the initial filing. The court admitted the amended charge along with supporting documents spanning 501 pages. Oyedepo requested an accelerated hearing and urged the court to impose conditions to guarantee the defendants’ attendance.
Oyetibo told the court that Ozekhome had consistently honoured invitations from anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. He noted that his client’s international passport was already in the custody of the EFCC and described him as a senior member of the legal profession with an established Abuja practice.
Counsel to the second defendant urged the court to grant bail on health grounds, citing a heart condition and administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC. The prosecution did not oppose bail but asked the court to set appropriate conditions.
In her ruling, Justice Orji granted bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety in like sum. She ordered that the surety must own verifiable property in Abuja and that the defendants deposit their passports with the court. They were directed to perfect the conditions on or before March 2, 2026.
The case was adjourned to March 13, April 15 and April 16, 2026, for trial.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired between 2020 and 2025 to forge and use a passport in the name “Tali Shani” to facilitate claims over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London. The prosecution further alleged unlawful control of the property and £18,000 in accrued rent, as well as the forgery of a 2023 document purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support the claim.
