*After AGF withdraws charge
Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has struck out a lawsuit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) against Prof Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
The ICPC had filed a three-count charge of alleged forgery against Ozekhome on January 16, 2026. The Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the case on January 26.
At the last hearing, counsel to the Attorney-General, Rotimi Oyedepo, stated that the case would be prosecuted with the highest standard of efficiency, diligence and due process.
However, during Tuesday’s proceedings scheduled for Ozekhome’s arraignment, Oyedepo moved an application to withdraw the case.
He explained that the office of the Attorney-General required time to review and consolidate issues arising from multiple investigating agencies in order to strengthen the prosecution.
Justice Kekemeke granted the application and struck out the case.
Ozekome, 68, is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The three-count charge was filed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja in January by ICPC’s Head of High Profile Prosecution Department, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, and Assistant Chief Legal Officer, Ngozi Onwuka, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
The senior lawyer was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.
The alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021 in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.
The charge sheet showed three counts, bordering on giving false information, use of forged documents, and attempting to deceive a public authority.