New evidence has come up indicating that a crucial document submitted by notable Nigerian lawyer Mike Ozekhome SAN to a London tribunal, in support of his ownership claim to a North London property, was fake.
Although the document was admitted by the British court as genuine at the time, due to lack of contrary evidence, the issuing authority in Nigeria has now confirmed that it was fake.
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed that the Nigerian passport used as evidence in the property dispute in London was never legitimately issued, according to Premium Times.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) stated that passport booklet number A07535463, presented to support Ozekhome’s claim, was defective, reported stolen, and never personalised.
NIS stated: “The said booklet was reported stolen and was never personalised. Consequently, it does not exist in the Service’s Electronic Management System, and no Certified True Copy is available.”
“Preliminary findings showed that personal data had been “unlawfully superimposed” on the booklet, with “numerous inconsistencies” suggesting significant irregularities.”
Justice Ewan Paton of the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) had admitted the passport as authentic evidence in proceedings concluded in September 2025.
The judge noted in his ruling that a man identified as Tali Shani had given evidence and that a certified copy of a Nigerian passport was produced.
“I do not have the evidence, or any sufficient basis, to find that this document… is forged, and I do not do so,” the judge stated at the time.
But, subsequent findings by Nigerian authorities have now established that the passport was fraudulent.
Relying on the NIS findings, the ICPC filed criminal charges against Mr Ozekhome at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on January 16.
Court documents show the senior lawyer faces three counts, including:
Allegedly receiving House 79 Randall Avenue, London, in August 2021 through what prosecutors describe as corrupt means;
Allegedly making a false document, namely the Nigerian passport bearing number A07535463 in the name of Mr Shani Tali;
Allegedly dishonestly using the said passport as genuine in support of the property ownership claim.
The prosecution is being handled by Ngozi Onwuka of the ICPC High Profile Prosecution Department.
The controversy began in August 2021 when Mr Ozekhome applied to transfer ownership of 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, into his name, claiming it was a gift from one Tali Shani in appreciation for legal services rendered.
He told the London tribunal that he was introduced to Mr Shani in January 2019 and later provided advisory and court-related services, after which the property was transferred to him as a gift.
Mr Ozekhome maintained that the transfer was “gratuitous,” insisting that the value of his professional services exceeded any monetary consideration.
However, he declined to produce documentation of the alleged legal services, citing client confidentiality.
The application was challenged in September 2022 by solicitors representing a woman identified as Ms Tali Shani, who claimed she had been the registered owner since 1993 and never signed any transfer.
At the centre of the dispute was the late retired General Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha.
In evidence before he died in January 2025, General Useni told the tribunal via video link that he purchased the property in 1993.
“I owned it. I bought the property. It is my property,” he told the court.
Court records indicate that although the property was registered under the name “Tali Shani,” General Useni could not clearly explain the identity’s link to the acquisition.
The tribunal later concluded that the 1993 purchase was made under a false identity, “Philips Bincan,” and rejected Mr Ozekhome’s account, describing it as a “contrived story.”
Justice Paton ruled that Shani had no legal title to pass to Ozekhome and that ownership now rests with whoever secures probate over General Useni’s London estate.