The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, February 27, 2026, granted bail to Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, in the sum of N10 million following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on forgery charges.
Ozekhome was arraigned alongside Ponfa Useni and the late General Jeremiah Useni before Justice C.N. Oji on a 12-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and false pretense. The charges are related to the alleged forgery of documents and an international passport to facilitate the claim of ownership of a property located at No. 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.
At the proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, presented the amended charge dated February 25, 2026, which the court accepted in place of the original charge. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Among the allegations, count one of the charge accuses the defendants of conspiring to make a false Nigerian International Passport bearing the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, to support their claim to the UK property in 2020.
Following the not-guilty pleas, the prosecution did not oppose the bail applications filed by the defendants but urged the court to prioritize an accelerated hearing, citing the interests of society and the legal profession.
Counsel to Ozekhome, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, commended the prosecution’s stance and requested that his client be granted bail on self-recognition. He emphasized Ozekhome’s standing as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with over 45 years of legal experience and his residence in Abuja. Similarly, counsel to the second defendant, Onoja, SAN, requested lenient bail terms, citing his client’s health condition.
Justice Oji granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N10 million, with one reasonable surety required to own property in Abuja. The court also ordered that the defendants’ international passports be deposited with the court registrar.
Justice Oji further directed that the case be given accelerated hearing and adjourned proceedings to March 13, 2026, and April 15 and 16, 2026, for trial.
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