Matilda Omonaiye/
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Committee has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to launch a probe into the messy property dispute in the United Kingdom involving Chief Mike Aghedor Abu Ozekhome.
The case, Tali Shani v. Chief Mike Aghedor Abu Ozekhome, currently before the UK’s First-Tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Case No: REF/2023/0155), revolves around ownership of property at 79 Randall Avenue, London. The Committee said the controversy raises several improprieties requiring urgent investigation into the authenticity of the judgment in circulation, as well as the role of some legal practitioners in Nigeria.
According to the Committee, investigations must uncover how fake NIN, fraudulent MTN numbers, fake ECOWAS passports, and fictitious identities were allegedly procured to impersonate “Tali Shani.” It noted that these attempts to manipulate legal processes not only undermine Nigeria’s image but also point to collusion between corrupt civil servants and compromised lawyers.
The statement cited Judge Ewan Paton’s ruling that the late Lt. General Jeremiah Useni acquired the London property in a questionable manner, similar to the £1.9 million case earlier decided in Jersey in 2022. On this basis, the Committee urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to assert Nigeria’s interest in the UK property with a view to recovering it.
“The credibility and sustainability of the legal sector in Nigeria is at stake. We cannot afford to sweep this matter under the carpet as has been done with other high-profile cases in the past,” the Committee warned.
Signed by Prof. Babafemi A. Badejo, Chairman of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee, the statement further recommended that Dr. George Ekpungu, Esq., and Mr. Bayo Akinlade, Esq., be included in the Attorney-General’s investigation panel.
The Committee stressed that a thorough and transparent probe will not only restore public trust but also safeguard Nigeria’s international reputation.
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