By Abiola Olawale
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has officially taken over the prosecution of a criminal case against a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome.
The case, which centers on allegations of forgery and the use of false documents regarding a luxury property in London, was reassigned from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) during a court session on Monday, January 26, 2026.
The criminal charges follow a scathing September 2025 judgment by the UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
The tribunal, presided over by Judge Ewan Paton, blocked Ozekhome’s attempt to claim ownership of a North London house located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The UK court described the case as being built on a “network of fraud, impersonation, and forged documents.”
Following the development, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a three-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 against Ozekhome on January 16.
He was to be arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama on Monday.
However, when the case was called, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court of the decision of the AGF to take over the prosecution of the matter.
According to him, the case is to be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.
Oyedepo stated that the AGF would require time to review the case file.
Osuobeni Akponimisingha, ICPC counsel, did not oppose the application.
Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, adjourned the case to February 24 for arraignment of the defendant.
