The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), permission to review the fraud charges filed against constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ruling was delivered on Monday, prompting the court to postpone Ozekhome’s arraignment, which was scheduled for the same day, to February 24, 2026, to enable the Office of the Attorney-General to study the case file.
During the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced his appearance on behalf of the Attorney-General, informing the court that the AGF had taken over the prosecution of the matter from the ICPC in line with Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
Oyedepo explained that the decision was taken in the interest of justice and public good, stressing the need for diligence, fairness and strict adherence to due process.
He assured the court that the rights of the defendant would be fully safeguarded throughout the proceedings.
Counsel to the ICPC, Dr Osuebeni Akpos, raised no objection to the takeover and pledged the commission’s cooperation with the Attorney-General’s office.
On the defence side, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), led a legal team comprising 15 other Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Justice Peter Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the case to February 24, 2026, for arraignment.
The ICPC had earlier filed a three-count charge against Ozekhome, alleging fraud, forgery and the use of false documents in relation to a disputed property in London.
READ ALSO: Court Remands Jude Okoye in Prison Over $1m, £34k Fraud Charges
Prosecutors claimed that the senior lawyer knowingly received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which he reportedly presented as a gift, and allegedly relied on a forged Nigerian passport to support the claim.
According to the prosecution, the alleged actions contravened provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act as well as the FCT Penal Code.
The charges stem from a petition submitted to the ICPC by Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda.
The petition referenced a judgment of a British court, which allegedly accused Ozekhome and others of conspiring with corrupt Nigerian officials to obtain fake national identity documents to fraudulently claim ownership of a property in North London.