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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has withdrawn the three-count criminal case brought against human rights lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
The decision for the withdraw was announced yesterday by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Oyedepo told Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that after reviewing the case file, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN instructed that the case be withdrawn for further instructions.
The DPPF said the application for withdrawal was brought pursuant to section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Oyedepo said the AGF’s decision was informed by the need to ensure that the prosecution complies with the highest standards of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence, and compliance with due process of law.
He added that the AGF was guided by public interest to instill confidence, fairness, and competence in the criminal justice system.
The DPPF said the AGF also considered the interagency cooperation in the fight against corruption in taking over the case
He assured the court that the defendant’s rights would be protected, adding that no party would suffer any injustice.
Oyedepo subsequently asked the court to take judicial notice of the formal takeover of the trial by the office of the AGF.
He then sought an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office to retrieve the case file from the ICPC, review it, and decide on the next steps.
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Following Oyedepo’s application, which the defence legal team led by Paul Erokoro (SAN) did not oppose, Justice Peter Kekemeke struck out the three-count charge.
Justice Kekemeke held that, “the application having not been objected to is hereby granted. Accordingly charge No: FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 is hereby withdrawn and struck out.”
The three-count criminal charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed against Ozekhome by the ICPC in which he was accused of among others, forgery.
Some of the counts reads: “That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (M) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August, 2021 or thereabout at a place outside Nigeria i.e. London, directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.
That you Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (m) ’68yrs’ of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a legal practitioner and senior advocate of Nigeria did make a false document, to wit: Nigeria passport A07535463 bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali with intent to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX with intent to commit fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.
