By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the alleged United Kingdom (UK) property forgery case involving lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The approval for the takeover and review of the fraud charges was granted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday, January 26.
Following the development, the court shifted Ozekhome’s arraignment, which was earlier fixed for Monday, to February 24, 2026, to allow the AGF’s office study the case file.
At the proceedings, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced his appearance for the AGF and informed the court that the Attorney-General had taken over the prosecution from the ICPC, pursuant to Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
Oyedepo said the decision was guided by public interest and the need to ensure effectiveness, diligence, fairness, and strict compliance with due process, assuring the court that the defendant’s rights would be fully protected.
The takeover was not opposed by the counsel for the ICPC, Dr Osuebeni Akpos, and pledged the commission’s cooperation.
The defence team was led by former AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and comprises 15 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
Justice Peter Kekemeke thereafter adjourned the matter till February 24 for arraignment.
The ICPC filed a three-count criminal charge against Ozekhome at the FCT High Court in Abuja, accusing him of alleged fraud, forgery, and use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in London.
The prosecutors alleged that Ozekhome knowingly received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which he claimed was gifted to him, and then allegedly used a forged Nigerian passport in support of that claim.
They argued that both acts contravened provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.
The case follows a petition to the ICPC by Mr Olanrewaju Suraj, the head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda.
The petition referenced a British court judgment that accused Ozekhome and others of conspiring with corrupt Nigerian officials to procure fake national identity documents to “fraudulently claim ownership” of a property in North London.
