The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has withdrawn the criminal charges filed against senior advocate, Mike Ozekhome, over alleged forgery.
The withdrawal was announced on Tuesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the Attorney General of the Federation had resolved to take a holistic review of the case to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Following the application — which was not opposed by the defence team led by Paul Erokoro(SAN) — the court struck out the three-count charge against Ozekhome.
Ozekhome had earlier been arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery and related offences in a case initially instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC had filed a three-count charge at the FCT High Court in Abuja, accusing the senior lawyer of fraud, forgery, and the use of false documents in connection with a disputed property in London.
Prosecutors alleged that Ozekhome knowingly received a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which he claimed was gifted to him, and subsequently used a forged Nigerian passport to support that claim. The alleged acts were said to contravene provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.
On January 29, 2026, Oyedepo had notified the court of the AGF’s decision to take over the prosecution from the ICPC pursuant to Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the Attorney General to institute, take over, or discontinue criminal proceedings.
According to the DPPF, the decision was taken in collaboration with the anti-graft agency to ensure that the prosecution met the highest standards of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence, and due process. He added that the move was guided by public interest considerations and the need to promote fairness, competence, and confidence in the criminal justice system.
Oyedepo further assured the court that the rights of the defendant would be protected and that no party would suffer injustice as the case undergoes review.
Justice Kekemeke subsequently granted the application and struck out the charge.
THE PUNCH
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