Factual overview of the (Chief Mike Ozhekome) Tali Shani Forgery Case

The “Tali Shani” forgery refers to a complex scandal involving allegations of identity fraud, document forgery, and corruption in a dispute over a London property originally owned by the late Nigerian General Jeremiah Useni.

The case centers on attempts to transfer ownership of the property at 79 Randolph Avenue (also referred to as Randall Avenue in some reports), Maida Vale, London NW6 (or NW2 in varying accounts), using fabricated identities and documents tied to the name “Tali Shani” (alternately spelled Shani Tali).

This property was secretly purchased by Useni in 1993 under aliases like “Philips Bincan” or “Tali Shani” to conceal wealth potentially linked to public funds during his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the Sani Abacha regime.

The forgery allegations emerged in a 2025 UK tribunal case and escalated into criminal charges in Nigeria in January 2026 against prominent lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, who claimed the property as a gift. The case highlights multiple “faces” of Tali Shani—presented variously as a man (“Mr Tali Shani”), a woman (“Ms Tali Shani”), or an alias for Useni—leading to accusations of a “network of fraud” involving impersonation and contrived stories.

Details of the ForgeryThe forgeries primarily involved creating false identities and documents to support competing claims to the property:

• Fictitious Identities:
  • “Mr Tali Shani”: Presented by Ozekhome as a real Nigerian businessman from Plateau State whom he met in 2019. This individual allegedly gifted the property to Ozekhome in August 2021 as gratitude for legal services (advisory, court wins, and written work) without monetary payment. “Mr Tali Shani” testified in the UK tribunal, claiming he bought the property at age 20 in 1993 using proceeds from cattle, groundnut, and mango farming, and appointed Useni as manager in 2010. However, these claims were deemed implausible and contradictory, with no supporting documents for the purchase.
  • “Ms Tali Shani”: A separate claimant who objected to Ozekhome’s transfer application in 2022, asserting she was the original 1993 owner and never authorised the gift. She was described as Useni’s long-term partner who provided funds for the purchase. However, the UK tribunal concluded she was a “phantom identity” and never existed, with all related evidence fabricated. Witnesses like Anakwe Marcel Obasi (claiming to be her cousin) and Ayodele Damola (claiming to be her son) provided inconsistent testimonies, including mismatched death dates and a funeral where the photographer was allegedly killed by bandits.
• Forged Documents:
  • Nigerian Passport A07535463: Issued in the name of “Ms Tali Shani” (or “Mr Shani Tali” in charges), but confirmed by the Nigeria Immigration Service as defective, never utilized, with unlawfully superimposed data and no record in their database. It violated ICAO standards and showed inconsistencies on the data page.
  • National Identification Number (NIN): Fraudulently created for “Ms Tali Shani” remotely from Monaco, bypassing biometric requirements (using an “amputee” provision without fingerprints) with a forged photograph. It was suspended by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) due to irregularities, involving corrupt officials.
  • Tax Identification Number (TIN): Linked to the fake identity, also fabricated with involvement from Federal Inland Revenue Service officials.
  • Other Supporting Documents: A fictitious mobile phone bill with a non-existent address (“10 Commercial Road, Jos”), traced to a solicitor not connected to “Ms Tali Shani.” A death certificate and obituary for “Ms Tali Shani” (claiming death on October 3, 2023 or 2024) contained errors, such as a thanksgiving service on a non-Sunday date. Medical reports and other evidence were deemed forgeries by experts like Festus Esangbedo (NIMC) and Superintendent Ibrahim Sini (Nigeria Police).

The UK tribunal found these forgeries were orchestrated with the connivance of corrupt Nigerian officials across agencies like NIMC, Immigration, and Police, forming a “contrived story” to legitimise claims. 

Findings and Outcomes

• UK Tribunal Ruling (September 11, 2025): Judge Ewan Paton of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) rejected all claims by Ozekhome and “Ms Tali Shani,” ruling the case built on a “network of fraud, impersonation, and forged documents.” Useni was confirmed as the true 1993 owner using aliases to hide assets (consistent with a 2022 Jersey court exposing his laundering tactics). Neither claimant had valid title; the property vested in Useni’s estate after his death in France in January 2025. Ozekhome’s application was canceled, and the case was struck as an abuse of process.
• Nigerian Developments: Following the UK ruling, the Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Committee called for investigations in October 2025. A Nigerian court issued a forfeiture order for the property. The scandal damaged the legal profession’s integrity, prompting reviews by the Attorney General.

Criminal Charges Against Mike Ozekhome (January 2026)

On January 16, 2026, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Ozekhome at the Federal High Court in Abuja on three counts, triggered by a petition from the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA):

1. Corruptly receiving the property from “Shani Tali” in 2021, violating the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.
2. Making a false document (the passport A07535463).
3. Dishonestly using the false passport as genuine to support ownership claims, under the Penal Code.

Witnesses include ICPC investigators, Immigration officials, and others. Ozekhome provided a statement to ICPC on January 12, 2026, acknowledging the UK judgment but maintaining his ownership since 2021 based on the gift and his relationship with Useni.

Mike Ozekhome’s Defense and Response

Ozekhome has denied involvement in forgery, asserting the legitimacy of his claim through “Mr Tali Shani” while labeling “Ms Tali Shani” as abricated entity created for fraud. He emphasized:

• His 20-year friendship with Useni, who confirmed ownership and the transfer as a gesture (possibly for debts or favors).
• Possession of powers of attorney from 2019 and 2020, and being the only party with pre-registration documents.
• Rebutting “Ms Tali Shani’s” evidence as forgeries, supported by expert testimonies debunking the NIN, phone bill, and death certificate.
• No knowledge of the property before 2019, and the gift was non-monetary gratitude for services.

He described rival claims as an “elaborate narrative” with fictitious characters. As of January 18, 2026, no public statement directly addressing the fresh ICPC charges was found in recent searches, though his pre-charge defenses focused on the UK proceedings.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1993: Useni buys the property under aliases.
• 2019: Ozekhome meets “Mr Tali Shani,” receives power of attorney.
• August 2021: Property “gifted” to Ozekhome; transfer application filed.
• 2022: “Ms Tali Shani” challenges the transfer.
• January 2025: Useni dies.
• September 2025: UK tribunal rules against claims, exposes fraud.
• October 2025: Calls for Nigerian investigations.
• January 2026: ICPC charges Ozekhome.

The case remains ongoing in Nigeria, with implications for anti-corruption efforts and legal ethics.