The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday granted N10 million bail each to Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Ponfa Useni, the son of the late Jeremiah Useni, whose property in the United Kingdom is under dispute.

The federal government arraigned the duo before Justice Chizoba Oji on 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Mr Ozekhome is being accused of using a fake Nigerian passport to claim a UK property belonging to the late Mr Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who once worked with General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s late dictator.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts brought against them in court on Friday.

Following their not-guilty plea, Tayo Oyetibo, counsel to Mr Ozekhome, and F. R. Onoja, counsel to Mr Useni, applied for their bail. The bail application was not opposed by Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel for the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

In her ruling, Ms Oji granted N10 million bail each to both defendants, with a surety in like sum who must also have property within the FCT.

The defendants were also mandated to deposit their passports with the court registrar.

The office of the AGF had, on January 26, 2026, taken over a three-count alleged forgery suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on January 16 against Mr Ozekhome and amended the charges.

Mr Ozekhome is being prosecuted for presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

Named in the property dispute in London are Mr Ozekhome and the late Mr Useni.

It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Mr Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one Ms Tali Shani on one hand and Mr Ozekhome on the other.

Mr Ozekhome claimed that he received the house as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while lawyers for ‘Ms Shani’ insisted she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as ‘Mr Tali Shani’ had testified in favour of Mr Ozekhome, claiming that he had “powers of attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Mr Ozekhome).

Mr Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Mr Useni as his property manager, describing him as an “elder friend and business partner.” ”.

Several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc., were tendered by witnesses of Ms Shani to claim ownership of the property. The tribunal, however, found all the documents tendered for Ms Shani to be fake and dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Shani existed.

The court ruled that the real owner, via a false name, was Mr Useni.