HEDA Petitions ICPC To Probe Ozekhome, Son, Others Over Alleged Fraud, Forgery, And Attempted London Property Grab

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), his son, Osilama Ozekhome, one Efemuai Mudiaga Kingsley, and other associates over alleged fraud, forgery of Nigerian identity documents, and an unlawful attempt to acquire property in the United Kingdom.

The petition, signed by HEDA Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, followed a September 11, 2025 judgment of the United Kingdom’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in the case of Tali Shani v Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (SAN).

In the judgment, the UK Tribunal dismissed Ozekhome’s claim that a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London, had been transferred to him as part payment for legal services worth ?100 million. The court described his claim as a fabrication and a fraudulent attempt to take possession of property that did not lawfully belong to him.

The Tribunal revealed that several fraudulent Nigerian identity documents, including a passport, ECOWAS travel document, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and National Identification Number (NIN), were produced to impersonate “Mr. and Ms. Tali Shani,” the supposed owners of the London property.

According to evidence before the court, these documents were obtained with the knowledge and involvement of Chief Ozekhome and his legal associates. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) confirmed that the NIN was fraudulently created remotely from Monaco using an “amputee exception” to bypass biometric capture and was issued with a non-compliant photograph.

Further investigation by the Nigeria Police Force revealed that the Jos address used in the documentation was fictitious, while the 9mobile phone account linked to the fraudulent identity was traced back to solicitors involved in the case.

HEDA expressed concern that such an elaborate fraud could not have been executed without the active participation of corrupt officials within key government institutions, including the NIMC, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and court registries.

The civil society group urged the ICPC to launch a full-scale investigation into all individuals and institutions implicated, collaborate with UK authorities to recover the London property, and refer the implicated lawyers to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for possible disbarment.

“This case is alarming not just because of the unlawful property grab, but because it demonstrates how easily Nigeria’s sensitive identity systems can be manipulated by elites and compromised public officials,” Suraju said. “It is a direct assault on our institutions and national reputation. The ICPC must act swiftly and decisively to restore public confidence.”

HEDA emphasized that decisive action on the matter would send a strong signal that Nigeria will not tolerate the abuse of its national identity infrastructure or judicial systems, regardless of the social status or influence of those involved.

The controversy over the London property dates back more than three decades. The house at 79 Randall Avenue, Brent, North West London, was purchased in 1993 under the name Tali Shani. Over time, questions arose about the true identity of “Tali Shani” and whether the name masked the actual beneficial owner.

In 2025, the ownership dispute reached the UK’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), where Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) laid claim to the property, insisting it had been transferred to him as part payment for legal services. Opposing parties, identifying themselves as “Mr. and Ms. Tali Shani,” challenged his claim.

What initially appeared as a straightforward property registration matter quickly evolved into a web of false identities, offshore accounts, and allegations of Nigerian political intrigue.

In its ruling, presiding Judge Ewan Paton concluded that both “Mr. Tali Shani” and “Ms. Tali Shani” who appeared before the court were impostors. Evidence, including testimony from Nigerian investigators, revealed that the Tali Shani name had been deliberately used as a front to conceal the true ownership of the property, which was later linked to the late General Jeremiah Timbut Useni.

The Tribunal cited findings from Superintendent Ibrahim Sini of the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police, who confirmed that the NIMC’s records were manipulated and that the associated documents were forged. Superintendent Sini’s investigation relied heavily on the conclusions of Mr. Esangbedo, a representative of the NIMC, who confirmed that the fraudulent NIN was created under dubious circumstances.

HEDA warned that the case illustrates a dangerous weakness in Nigeria’s identity management system, stressing that national databases can be hijacked by privileged individuals and corrupt insiders to perpetrate fraud across borders.

The organization urged the ICPC and relevant oversight bodies to act without delay, not only to prosecute the suspects but to safeguard Nigeria’s digital identity and judicial integrity.

“If a senior lawyer of Chief Ozekhome’s standing can be linked to such manipulation, it underscores how vulnerable our systems have become,” HEDA said. “The ICPC must ensure that this case marks a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against high-level corruption and institutional compromise.”