The name of a former minister, General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), resurfaced in court on Friday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed charges linking him and two others to an alleged forged Nigerian passport used in a United Kingdom property claim.
The commission presented the case before Justice C.N. Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, accusing Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Ponfa Useni and the late Useni of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and false pretence in a 12-count amended charge.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to replace the earlier charge dated February 24, 2026, with an amended version dated February 25, 2026.
“My lord, I also want to draw your attention to the proof of evidence filed alongside the documents marked pages 1 to 501, that your lordship will accept the amended charge alongside the proof of evidence,” he said.
One of the counts alleged that the defendants in 2020 in Abuja agreed “to cause to be done an illegal act, to wit: making a false Nigerian International Passport No.A07535463 with the name, Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using same to support your claim of ownership of the property known as No. 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom.”
Another count accused them of conspiring in 2022 to use the passport “as genuine” to facilitate the same property claim.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Urging the court to prioritise the case, Oyedepo said: “My lord, a lot are at stake in this proceedings, in the interest of the society, that of the defence and that of the legal profession, as such we will be urging your lordship that this matter, with the cooperation of the defence be granted or accord priority to the hearing and determination of this matter, I mean accelerated hearing. In that case, we will be asking for a very short trial day to enable the defendant to show cause in good faith and the prosecution to prepare and be ready for the trial. We have been served with the two different applications for bail, which we won’t be opposing, so we will be urging your lordship that this matter be determined on time.”
Counsel to the first defendant, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, commended the prosecution for not opposing bail and assured the court of cooperation for a speedy hearing. He sought bail on self-recognition, noting that his client is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with over 45 years at the Bar and resides in Abuja.
Onoja, SAN, representing the second defendant, also appreciated the prosecution’s position and informed the court that his client has a serious heart condition and had earlier been granted administrative bail.
“My short application is that he should be released to his wife in the same manner. I urge your lordship that you make the bail condition to be one surety who should be his spouse,” he said.
Justice Oji granted bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety who must own property in Abuja. The court ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports and fixed March 13, April 15 and 16, 2026, for trial.
