The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama Abuja Friday, granted bail in the sum of N10m each to senior Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN. Ponfa Useni, his co-defendant was also admitted to bail. This came shortly after their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge filed by the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN.
The charge was premised on alleged forgery of documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, poportedly used for claim of the property in London at Raddle street said to have been unlawfully procured by the late general Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the FCT.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, effectively advancing the matter to trial.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications moved by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) who led other senior lawyers from the inner and outer bar for Ozekhome, while F.R. Onoja (SAN) represented Useni, the second Defendant.
In a brief ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10m each with one surety each, who must own property within the FCT. She also ordered the Defendants to deposit their international traveling passports with the court.
The judge held that since the proceedings were conducted on a Friday, the defendants may return home if unable to perfect their bail conditions immediately, but must report back to court on Monday to do so, failing which they would be remanded in prison.
The prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN told the court: “we appreciate the manner in which the pleas were taken. The legal implications of the plea of not guilty as enshrined in section 273 of ACJA means that the defendants are deemed to have put themselves on trial.
“A lot are at stake in this proceeding, to wit, the interest of the society, that of the defence and that of the legal profession. And as such, we urge your lordship that this matter, with the cooperation of the defence (I do not have any reason to doubt the capacity and the strength of the defence) that your lordship grants this matter accelerated hearing and it is in that spirit that we will be asking for a very short trial date as a show of good faith from the prosecution to enable the Defendant prepare and be ready for the trial. We have been served with two different applications for bail by the 1st and second defendants and we will be urging your lordship to impute such conditions that your lordship seems fit to secure their presence in the course of the accelerated hearing that we have urged your lordship to grant”.
“We are not opposed. We want this matter to be determined on time and in view of all the issues I have raised. The learned SAN is a legal practitioner and he should know his fate on time. The second defendant is a consultant as well.
Counsel to the second defendant, Tayo Oyetibo SAN also told the court: “I confirm that on behalf of the first defendant, an application for bail was filed on the 25th day of February, 2026, which has been served on the DPP as confirmed by him. I shall like to commend the attitude of my learned brother in not opposing the application for bail. I can assure him that the defence will cooperate for the expeditious dispensation of this matter.
“Regarding the conditions for bail for the first defendant, this matter started some time October 2025 and he has consistently made himself available to the investigating agencies (ICPC, EFCC and DSS) his international passport has been submitted to the EFCC. Apart from being a senior member of the bar, he is also a senior advocate of Nigeria. He is ordinarily resident in Abuja with his law firm located in Abuja as stated by him in his affidavit. He is personally known to the AGF. His wife is a lawyer, his sons are lawyers. He has no where to run to. This is a typical occasion where a defendant can be granted bail on self recognition as done by the EFCC and ICPC. He is anxious that the matter be determined expeditiously. He cannot abandon his practice in Nigeria.
Counsel Onoja SAN who represents the second defendant remarks that: “I thank the learned DPP, FRN for indicating that he will not oppose bail. The second defendant is a humble man. I wish he comes with the qualifications to be noticed by the court. I wish to inform your lordship that the spouse of the 2nd defendant is a member of the bar. The second defendant had a severe heart condition which prompted the EFCC to grant him bail on very liberal terms. Indeed he was released to his wife who is a member of the Bar. My application is that he be released to his wife in the same manner. What the EFCC found was that releasing him to his wife was the easiest way to secure his attendance. I ask that he be released to one surety which is his wife and I assure the court that he will not jump bail”.
After hearing arguments for both sides for the bail application, the court ruled thus: “I have considered the applications for the bail of the first and second Defendants. I consider that they were on administrative bail, with terms they were compliant with. The prosecution is not opposed to the bail application too.
“I hereby grant bail in the sum of 10m naira with one reasonable surety who shall be resident within the FCT and shall have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court. I order that the Defendants’ international passport be transferred to this court and I hereby grant accelerated hearing in this matter.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to 13th March and April 15th and 16th, 2026 respectively for trial.
According to the judge, “I also give the Defendants up till Monday to perfect the bail conditions. I will be here till 4:00 pm and if by that time they are unable to perfect it, then I will extend it till Monday, the court ruled.
Chief Ozekhome is standing trial on alleged property transaction dealing in the UK, a development many legal commentators see as whitchhurting citing jurisdictional basis.
List of Counsel in the matter are as follows:
Prosecution team was led by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director Public Prosecution DPP of the FRN, appearing with A. R. Tahir, chief state Counsel, and M. A. Oladunbioye Asst chief state Counsel.
The Defence team for the first defendant was led by Tayo Oyetibo SAN, Paul Erokoro SAN, Abeni Mohammed SAN, Sylva Ogwemoh SAN, Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri SAN, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, C. A. S. Oshomegie SAN, appearing with Rex Erameh, Anthony Anene, A. B. Ige Asemudara, Iribor Sanami, Godwin Iyibor, Jeff Kadiri, Fatima Audu, Eustas Nwaozwu, Akintayo Balogun, Queen Ubokutom Umana, Oluchi Vivian Uche, Oshomha Mike Ozekhome, Jemilat Kassim Ali, Ighodalo Aigbobo, Sheriff Adele, Dino Melaye, Ibimina sokari, and C. N. Umeh.
While the second defendant was led by F. R. Onojah, SAN appearing with E. E. Moiwuye, O. J. Kekemeke, D. E. Ajaka, E. S. Edeba, O. J. Sampson.