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The Digest:

The Federal Government has filed a three-count criminal charge against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome, accusing him of forgery and the use of false documents in a property dispute in the United Kingdom. According to filings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Ozekhome is alleged to have presented a forged Nigerian passport and other documents to support a claim of ownership of a London property during proceedings before a UK tribunal in 2021. The case, brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), cites violations of anti-corruption and penal codes.

Key Points:
  • The case directly challenges public trust in Nigeria’s legal elite and the integrity of its most senior lawyers.
  • It demonstrates increased judicial cooperation between Nigeria and foreign jurisdictions on asset-related crimes.
  • A conviction could undermine the professional standing of not only the accused but the broader SAN title.
  • This reflects a continuing effort by anti-graft agencies to pursue high-profile, complex international cases.
  • The timing reinforces a recurring narrative of elite property disputes entangled with legal and documentary fraud.

The judicial process will now determine the validity of the allegations and their implications for legal accountability.

Sources: The Cable