The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has granted the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), approval to review fraud charges filed against constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
During the proceedings on Monday, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced that the Attorney-General’s office has officially taken over the prosecution from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This move was made pursuant to Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the AGF to take over criminal proceedings.
Oyedepo informed the court that the intervention was guided by public interest and the necessity of ensuring diligence, fairness, and strict adherence to due process. He further assured the court that the defendant’s rights would be fully protected under the AGF’s supervision. Counsel for the ICPC, Dr. Osuebeni Akpos, did not oppose the takeover and pledged the commission’s cooperation.
In light of these developments, Justice Peter Kekemeke shifted the arraignment, which was originally scheduled for Monday, to February 24, 2026. This adjournment is intended to provide the AGF’s office with sufficient time to study the case file.
The defense team for Ozekhome is led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who appeared alongside 15 other Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The ICPC’s case involves a three-count criminal charge related to alleged fraud, forgery, and the use of false documents concerning a disputed property in London. Prosecutors allege that Ozekhome knowingly received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London, claiming it was a gift, and subsequently used a forged Nigerian passport to support that claim. These acts are alleged to violate the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.
The matter originated from a petition by Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA). The petition cites a British court judgment that accused Ozekhome and others of conspiring with corrupt officials to obtain fake identity documents to fraudulently claim ownership of the North London property.
