By Muhammad Mamman
The Federal Government has initiated criminal prosecution proceedings against renowned human rights lawyer Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) over allegations of passport forgery linked to a disputed property ownership case in the United Kingdom.
According to court documents, the prosecution centres on claims that a forged Nigerian passport was used in transactions connected to a contested property in the UK. The Federal Government alleges that the document was presented to advance ownership claims in the matter, which has since drawn the attention of both Nigerian and British authorities.
Officials familiar with the case said the charges were filed following investigations by relevant security and prosecutorial agencies, which concluded that there was sufficient prima facie evidence to warrant criminal proceedings. The matter is expected to be tested in court, where the prosecution will seek to establish the authenticity of the passport in question and the circumstances surrounding its alleged use.
Mr Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and outspoken legal practitioner, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in previous public comments on the dispute, insisting that he has acted within the bounds of the law. His legal team is expected to challenge the charges and argue that the allegations are unfounded.
The development has sparked widespread interest within legal and political circles, given Ozekhome’s prominence in Nigeria’s legal community and his long-standing involvement in high-profile constitutional and human rights cases.
The case is scheduled to come up for arraignment, where the court will determine the next steps in the prosecution. As proceedings commence, the Federal Government has emphasised that the charges remain allegations until proven in court.
