Court Sets Date for Final Judgement on Jeremiah Useni Property Forfeiture
The Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to deliver its verdict on the final forfeiture of a London property associated with the late Jeremiah Useni and senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome on January 26.
This decision follows the expiration of a 14-day statutory period during which no representative of Useni’s estate challenged the government’s claim.
The case originated from an ex parte application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in late 2025, seeking an interim forfeiture and preservation order, asserting that the property was obtained through proceeds of unlawful activities.
Earlier, the presiding judge approved the interim order and directed the CCB to publish the order publicly, allowing interested parties to contest the claim of ownership.
The disputed property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, became a matter of contention between Ozekhome and a claimant identified as “Ms Tali Shani.” During proceedings in a UK tribunal, documents presented by Ms Shani’s witnesses—including a passport, national ID, and other official records—were found to be counterfeit.
The tribunal concluded that neither “Mr” nor “Ms Tali Shani” was genuine and dismissed all claims. Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift from a “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, with Useni acting as the property’s manager.
Following the tribunal’s ruling, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a three-count criminal charge against Ozekhome in Abuja, accusing him of forgery, use of false documents, and fraudulent claim to the London property.
The charges are brought under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and the Penal Code of the Federal Capital Territory.
The court’s upcoming decision will determine whether the property will be officially forfeited to the federal government.
The case underscores issues of property dispute, document forgery, and international legal proceedings, drawing significant attention from legal experts in Nigeria and the UK.
