An Abuja High Court has granted senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment for six weeks, despite his ongoing trial over alleged forgery and impersonation.
Justice Chizoba Oji, who delivered the ruling on Thursday, ordered the temporary release of Ozekhome’s international passport after the prosecution confirmed it had no objection to the request. The court, however, directed that the passport must be returned on or before August 26.
Ozekhome and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, were arraigned on February 27 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged forgery and impersonation linked to a disputed property ownership case in the United Kingdom. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court had earlier discovered that the prosecution had failed to deposit the defendants’ international passports as part of the bail conditions granted in February. Consequently, Justice Oji ordered the prosecution to produce the passports in court on Thursday.
After confirming ownership of the passport, Ozekhome’s application for its temporary release was considered. Although the prosecution did not oppose the request, its counsel, C.L. Asonta, urged the court to direct the defendant to return the passport within three working days of his return to Nigeria.
Granting the application, Justice Oji held that Ozekhome’s six-week medical trip would commence on July 9 and end on August 20.
“Having considered the motion and noting that there is no objection, I hereby grant the request for the temporary release of the first defendant’s international passport to enable him embark on his medical trip,” the judge ruled.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 28 for the continuation of trial.
Ponfa Useni, the second defendant, is the son of the late Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni, who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the military administration of late Gen. Sani Abacha.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 to forge a Nigerian international passport bearing the name “Tali Shani.” The prosecution further alleged that Ozekhome assisted Ponfa Useni in impersonating Tali Shani and that they created a fake Irrevocable Power of Attorney to facilitate a claim over the disputed UK property.
Both defendants have denied all allegations and continue to maintain their innocence.
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