The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the prosecution of the criminal case instituted against senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The development stalled Ozekhome’s planned arraignment on Monday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over a three-count charge filed by the ICPC, which includes allegations of forgery.
When the case was called, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that he was appearing on behalf of the AGF and announced the decision of the Attorney General to take over the matter from the ICPC.
Oyedepo said the AGF was acting in line with the powers conferred on his office under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
Counsel to the ICPC, Osuebeni Akpomisingha, who filed the charge, did not oppose the takeover of the case. Similarly, the defence team, led by former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and comprising several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, raised no objection.
Following an application for adjournment by the prosecution, which was not opposed by the defence, Justice Peter Kekemeke adjourned the matter until February 24 for arraignment.
One of the charges alleges that Ozekhome, sometime in August 2021 in Abuja, while acting as a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, allegedly made a false document—specifically a Nigerian passport bearing the name Shani Tali—with the intent to support a claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London. The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.
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