Prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome has been suspended from the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, following a UK tribunal’s findings of fraud and an ICPC criminal charge over a disputed London property.
One of Nigeria’s most recognisable legal voices has been silenced — at least for now.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee suspended Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Wednesday, following its 173rd general meeting held June 23. Supreme Court Chief Registrar Kabir Akanbi announced the decision, stating it would remain in force pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.
According to Daily Trust, the scandal traces back to a disputed property — 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX — allegedly belonging to the late General Jeremiah Useni of Plateau State. A UK tribunal not only indicted Ozekhome for allegedly using fraudulent documents to claim ownership but struck out all his evidence entirely, citing sharp practices involving a witness identified as Tali Shani.
Back home, the ICPC wasted no time. A 3-count charge — filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja — accuses Ozekhome of giving false information, using forged documents and attempting to deceive a public authority.
Count One pulls no punches, alleging Ozekhome “directly received house 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX purportedly given to you by one Mr Shani Tali, an act you knew constitutes a felony.”
The suspension was triggered under Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for Conferment of the SAN rank — the profession’s nuclear option.
SAN is Nigeria’s legal gold standard. For Ozekhome, that gold just turned to dust.
NEWS NOW:
