London property: Ozekhome, Useni arraigned over alleged forgery
• Court grants each N10m bail A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni were yesterday arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
• Court grants each N10m bail
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni were yesterday arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama on a 12-count charge brought against them by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF).
Ozekhome and Useni pleaded not guilty to the charge in which they are, among others, accused of forging documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney and engaging in impersonation to lay claim to a property in London allegedly acquired unlawfully by the late General Jeremiah Useni.
After the defendants' arraignment, prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) urged the court to grant accelerated hearing in the case in view of the fact that it was in the interest of all parties, including the legal profession, to have the case dealt with promptly.
Oyedepo confirmed being served with two bail applications by the defendants and said the prosecution was not averse to them being granted bail, but that they should set conditions that will ensure that they are available for trial.
Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who appeared for Ozekhome, and F. R. Onoja (SAN), who appeared for Useni, urged the court to grant bail to the defendants on liberal terms.
While Oyetibo prayed the court to grant bail to Ozekhome on self recognition because of his status in the legal profession, Onoja sought bail for his client on the condition that he produces a surety, who should be his wife, who he said is a lawyer.
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Ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji noted that the defendants had earlier been granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that they did not abuse the bail so granted.
Justice Oji proceeded to grant each of the defendants bail at N10 million with one surety each.
The judge said the surety must provide evidence of ownership of a property within the FCT.
She ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court.
The judge, who noted that the arraignment took place on Friday, said the defendants were free to go home from the court if they were unable to meet the bail conditions, but must return on Monday to complete the bail process, failing which they would be sent to prison.
Justice Oji granted accelerated hearing in the case and adjourned till March 13, April 15 and 16 for trial.
Some counts in the charge read:
*That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Ponfa Useni and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometime between the 30th day of May, 2020 and 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim of ownership to a property known as No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the FCT 2006 and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.
*That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court falsely personated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character made a Power of Attorney wherein you held yourself out as Tali Shani and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 179 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 532 LFCT 2006 and punishable under the same section of the same Act.
*That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, sometime in 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, abetted the commission of an offence to wit: personation of one Tali Shani by Ponfa Useni who with such assumed false character made and executed with you as a party, an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 to facilitate your claim of ownership of the property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 85 of the Penal Code Act 2006 and punishable under section 179 of the same Act.
*That you Ponfa Useni on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court cheated by personation when you pretended to be one Tali Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character executed an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 with Chief Mike. A.A Ozekhome SAN, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the Penal Code Act 532 LFCT 2006 and punishable under section 322 of the same section of the same Act.
*That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had under your control a property known as No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom which property is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained by General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased) with a fictitious name Tali Shani, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 319A of the Penal Code Act, 2006.
