The Federal Government has announced plans to arraign Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome.
The arraignment is scheduled for Monday, January 26, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The case centres on alleged fraud linked to a high-value London property, drawing national attention due to Ozekhome’s long-standing reputation in Nigeria’s legal space.
According to official court documents, the case will be heard in Courtroom 4 of the FCT High Court.
Chief Ozekhome is listed as the sole defendant, while the Federal Republic of Nigeria appears as the plaintiff.
The matter, therefore, places a senior legal figure directly in the dock, a move that has surprised many within legal and political circles.
The prosecution will be handled by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who heads the High Profile Prosecution Department of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
A hearing notice revealed that the matter “will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for Monday, the 26th day of January, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.”
This notice further advised parties to apply early if any adjournment is sought.
At the centre of the case are three criminal counts filed by the ICPC on January 16.
The first count alleges that in August 2021, in London, Ozekhome directly received a property located at House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
It was claimed that the property was given to him by Mr. Shani Tali, with knowledge that the act amounted to a felony.
Moreover, the second count alleges that Ozekhome, while acting as a legal practitioner and SAN, created a false Nigerian passport in Mr. Shani Tali’s name.
This document was allegedly used to support a fraudulent ownership claim over the London real estate.
The third count, meanwhile, accuses him of knowingly using the same false passport to strengthen that claim.
The case reportedly followed a petition submitted to the ICPC by Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda.
The petition referenced a British court judgment which accused Ozekhome and others of working with corrupt officials to “fraudulently claim ownership” of the North London property.
Consequently, the ICPC said it launched a full investigation after a London property tribunal issued findings implicating several parties.
However, the charges will be tested in court, and Ozekhome is expected to respond formally.
Meanwhile, the unfolding London property fraud case has raised wider concerns about cross-border real estate deals, forged documents, and the accountability of high-profile individuals.
