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By ABT NEWS | www.abtnews.net
ABUJA — In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal community, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has officially suspended the highly coveted Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank of prominent human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome.
The suspension, which strips Ozekhome of the privileges of the prestigious title, remains in effect pending the conclusion of ongoing disciplinary proceedings against him.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, the decisive action was resolved during the committee’s 173rd general meeting held on June 23. The LPPC noted that the decision was heavily rooted in paragraph 26(6) of the guidelines governing the conferment and conduct of Senior Advocates.
“The suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria while due consideration is given to the matters under review,” the statement read in part.
As a direct consequence of the ruling, Akanbi declared: “Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings.”
The Root of the Crisis: A Fake Passport Trial
Ozekhome’s suspension is closely tied to his ongoing criminal trial. The embattled lawyer is currently facing a 12-count charge alongside Ponfa Useni—the son of the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni.
The duo was arraigned in February before Justice Chizoba Oji of the FCT High Court in Maitama. They stand accused of allegedly using a counterfeit Nigerian passport in connection to a highly disputed piece of real estate in the United Kingdom.
Both Ozekhome and Useni pleaded not guilty to all charges. They were subsequently granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, requiring one surety in like sum who must own verifiable property within the FCT.
A Bizarre London Property Saga
The criminal charges in Abuja stem from a deeply complex and unusual property dispute centered around a residence located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The case, adjudicated at the UK’s First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) under case number REF/2023/0155, featured a legal tug-of-war between Ozekhome and an applicant identified as “Ms. Tali Shani.” The late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni was also named in the property dispute.
During the tribunal hearings, Ozekhome claimed he legally acquired the property as a gift in 2021 from a “Mr. Tali Shani.” A witness identifying himself as “Mr. Tali Shani” even testified in Ozekhome’s favor, claiming he had held power of attorney over the property since 1993 and had eventually transferred it to Ozekhome. This witness further alleged that he had appointed the late Useni as his property manager, referring to the former minister as an “elder friend and business partner.”
However, the case took a dramatic turn when lawyers representing “Ms. Tali Shani” presented a mountain of documents—including an obituary announcement, a National Identification Number (NIN) card, an ECOWAS passport, and phone records—in a bid to prove she was the rightful, original owner.
In a jaw-dropping climax, the UK tribunal scrutinized the evidence and ruled that all the documents tendered on behalf of “Ms. Tali Shani” were forged. Even more bizarrely, the tribunal dismissed all claims after concluding that neither “Mr. Tali Shani” nor “Ms. Tali Shani” actually existed.
As Ozekhome navigates the fallout from this phantom property dispute and the ensuing criminal trial in Abuja, the Nigerian legal fraternity watches closely. For now, the fiery lawyer must step into the courtroom without the silk robes of a Senior Advocate.
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