The Lawyer-Normal of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has introduced plans to evaluation the alleged forgery case filed in opposition to senior advocate Mike Ozekhome, SAN, by the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC).
The disclosure was made in courtroom by the Counsel to the AGF and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, throughout proceedings on the Federal Capital Territory Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, based on the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN).
The event comes amid earlier strikes by the ICPC to arraign Ozekhome over an alleged forgery linked to a United Kingdom property transaction, a transfer now placed on maintain pending the AGF’s intervention.
What they’re saying
On the resumed listening to, counsel introduced their appearances, with Osuebeni Akpomesingha representing the ICPC and Kanu Agabi, SAN, a former AGF and Minister of Justice, showing for the defendant.
- Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, additionally introduced his look on behalf of the AGF and knowledgeable the courtroom of the choice to invoke the AGF’s constitutional powers underneath Part 174 of the 1999 Structure.
“The Lawyer-Normal has resolved to take over the matter from the ICPC pursuant to the powers conferred on his workplace by Part 174 of the Structure.”
- The AGF sought an adjournment to “allow his workplace to retrieve the case file from the ICPC, totally evaluation it, and decide the following line of motion.”
The intervention would guarantee “the very best commonplace of effectiveness, effectivity, diligence, and compliance with due strategy of regulation.”
The choice, he mentioned, was guided by public curiosity and the necessity to instill “confidence, equity, and competence within the felony justice system.”
Oyedepo additional assured the courtroom that the defendant’s rights could be protected and that no occasion would undergo prejudice, after which he formally utilized for the AGF to take over the trial, a request the ICPC didn’t oppose.
Backstory
Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was scheduled to be arraigned by the ICPC earlier than an Abuja Excessive Courtroom over allegations bordering on forgery related to a UK property transaction.
- The case centres on claims by the anti-graft company that the senior lawyer dedicated offences opposite to the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.
- The ICPC alleges that Ozekhome, someday in August 2021 or thereabout in London, immediately acquired a property situated at Home 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
- The property was purportedly given to him by one Mr. Shani Tali, based on the Fee.
- The company claims that the alleged conduct quantities to a felony underneath Part 13 and is punishable underneath Part 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.
The arraignment scheduled for in the present day was stalled following the AGF’s choice to intervene and evaluation the case file.
What it’s best to know
The AGF’s transfer within the Ozekhome case is a part of a broader sample of constitutional intervention in felony proceedings initiated by regulation enforcement and anti-graft companies.
Lately, the Workplace of the Lawyer-Normal has exercised its powers to discontinue or reassess prosecutions after reviewing case information.
The AGF beforehand discontinued a felony case in opposition to three Ghanaian buyers; Samuel Esson Jonah, Kojo Ansah Mensah, and Victor Quainoo, and a Nigerian lawyer, Abu Arome, over alleged forgery and share allocation.
- In that occasion, the AGF faulted the police for trying to criminalize what was deemed a industrial dispute.
- The AGF additionally withdrew copyright infringement expenses in opposition to MTN Nigeria, its Chief Government Officer, Karl Toriola, and an govt after reviewing a case instituted by the Nigerian Copyright Fee.
- In June 2025, expenses in opposition to the Managing Director and Chief Government Officer of Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, had been discontinued to forestall what the AGF described as a possible miscarriage of justice.
Following submissions from counsel within the instantaneous case, Justice Peter Kekemeke adjourned the matter till February 24 for arraignment, pending the end result of the AGF’s evaluation, which might both see the costs discontinued or allowed to proceed.
