An Abuja high court has granted Mike Ozekhome, the first defendant, permission to travel to the United Kingdom for six weeks to receive medical treatment in the ongoing forgery and impersonation case instituted against him by the federal government.
Justice Chizoba Oji approved the request on Thursday after ruling on Ozekhome’s application for the temporary release of his international passport, directing him to return the travel document to the court on or before August 26, 2026.
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 arising from a disputed property ownership case in the United Kingdom.
The judge had earlier expressed concern after learning on Tuesday that the prosecution had not deposited the defendants’ international passports with the court as required under the bail conditions granted in February. The court subsequently directed the prosecution to produce the passports during Thursday’s proceedings.
In compliance with the order, the prosecution presented the international passports of both defendants before the court.
After Ozekhome identified his passport, Justice Oji asked the prosecution counsel, C.L. Asonta, whether there was any objection to its temporary release to enable the defendant travel for medical treatment.
Although the prosecution did not oppose the application, Asonta urged the court to direct Ozekhome to return the passport within three working days after his return to Nigeria.
Granting the request, Justice Oji held that there was no basis to deny the application since it was unopposed.
The judge ruled that Ozekhome’s six-week medical trip would run from July 9 to August 20 and ordered him to return the passport to the court on or before August 26.
The case was thereafter 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 during the military administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 to procure a Nigerian international passport bearing No. A07535463 in the name of Tali Shani.
The Federal Government further alleged that Ozekhome assisted Useni in impersonating Tali Shani and that both defendants created a forged irrevocable power of attorney to facilitate Ozekhome’s claim to a disputed property in the United Kingdom.
Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts and are currently on bail pending the conclusion of the trial.
