The Economic and Monetary Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, February 27, 2026 arraigned Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Ponfa Useni and Identical old Jeremiah Useni (now deceased) sooner than Justice C.N. Oji. Of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court docket, Maitama, Abuja over alleged forgery of documents and Worldwide Passport to facilitate the ownership of a property within the UK.
They had been arraigned on a 12- count amended payment bordering on conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and false pretense.
At Friday`s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN drew the consideration of the court docket to a 12 -count amended payment dated February 25, 2026, urging the court docket to change it in lisp of the preliminary normal payment dated February 24, 2026.
“ My lord, I also desire to contrivance your consideration to the proof of proof filed alongside the documents marked page 1 to 501, that your lordship will gain the amended payment alongside the proof of proof. We depend on them that your lordship will trigger the defendants to contrivance discontinuance their pleas,” he talked about
Depend one amongst the payment reads; “That you just, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Ponfa Useni, and Identical old Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), in the end within the twelve months 2020 in Abuja interior the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, agreed amongst yourselves to trigger to be carried out an unlawful act, to wit: making a false Nigerian Worldwide Passport No.A07535463 with the name, Tali Shani, and purported same to bear been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Provider with the intent of utilizing same to abet your claim of ownership of the property is known as No. seventy nine, Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence opposite to Part 96(1) of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532 Approved programs of the Federal Capital Territory 2006 and punishable below Part 364 of the same Act.
Depend three of the payment reads; “That you just, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Ponfa Useni, and Identical old Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), in the end in 2022 in Abuja interior the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, conspired amongst yourselves to make bellow of as exact, a false Nigerian Worldwide Passport No.A07535463 with the name Tali Shani to facilitate your claim of ownership of the property is known as No. seventy nine, Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence opposite to Part 96 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532 Approved programs of the Federal Capital Territory 2006 and punishable below Part 364 of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded no longer responsible to the final costs when be taught to them.
In contemplate of this, the prosecution counsel acknowledged that their no responsible plea has save them up for trial, making reference to Part 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Plan.
“My lord, loads are at stake in this proceedings, within the interest of the society, that of the defence and that of the fair occupation, as such we may perchance perhaps seemingly seemingly be urging your lordship that this topic, with the cooperation of the defence be granted or accord precedence to the listening to and possibility of this topic, I mean accelerated listening to. If that is so, we may perchance perhaps seemingly seemingly be asking for a really short trial day to enable the defendant to display disguise trigger in correct faith and the prosecution put collectively and be willing for the trial. We bear been served with the 2 assorted capabilities for bail, which we won’t be opposing, so we may perchance perhaps seemingly seemingly be urging your lordship that this topic be certain on time”, he talked about
Responding, counsel to the important thing defendant, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN counseled the angle of the prosecution for no longer opposing the application of bail, assuring him that they’ll cooperate in step with the accelerated possibility of the topic. He additional requested that the defendant be granted bail on self-recognition, citing that his consumer is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with over 45years fair expertise who resides in Abuja who’s also known by the Approved skilled Identical old of the Federation.
In the same vein, counsel to the 2d defendant, Onoja, SAN also appreciated the prosecution for no longer opposing bail. Pointing out that the 2d defendant is a humble man and his companion is also a member of the bar. Adding that his consumer has a really hazardous heart situation which used to be the motive why the EFCC granted him Administrative bail on very liberal terms.
“My short application is that he can bear to be launched to his wife within the same system. I mosey your lordship that you just create the bail situation to be one surety who can bear to be his companion” he talked about
Justice Oji granted the defendants bail within the sum of N10,000,000( Ten Million Naira) every with one cheap surety who need to bear a property in Abuja. She also ordered that their passports be domiciled in court docket custody. She additional acknowledged that the topic will be granted accelerated listening to.
The topic used to be adjourned to March 13, 2026, April 15,16, 2026 for trial.
