The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the criminal charge filed against senior advocate, Mike Ozekhome, over alleged forgery.
The Federal Capital Territory’s High Court in Maitama made the announcement of the withdrawal on Tuesday.
Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the Federation’s Director of Public Prosecution, told Justice Peter Kekemeke that the Attorney General of the Federation had made the decision to examine the case holistically and decide on the best course of action.
The three-count accusation against Mike Ozekhome was dropped by the court after the application, which was not contested by the defence team under Paul Erokoro (SAN).
Mike Ozekhome had been arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery and other related offences in a case initially instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
According to reports, Mike Ozekhome was charged with three counts of fraud, forgery, and use of false documents in connection with a contested property in London by the ICPC, which filed the case in the FCT High Court in Abuja.
The senior barrister was accused by the prosecution of intentionally receiving a house at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which he claimed was a gift, and then using a fake Nigerian passport to prove it.
They maintained that both conduct violated the FCT Penal Code and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Oyedepo informed the court on January 29, 2026, that the Attorney General had decided to assume prosecution from the anti-graft agency.
He clarified that Section 174 of the Constitution, which gives the Attorney General of the Federation the authority to start, take over, or end criminal proceedings, was the reason for the takeover.
Oyedepo claims that the decision was made in cooperation with the ICPC and was intended to guarantee that the prosecution satisfies the strictest requirements for efficacy, efficiency, diligence, and due process compliance.
He claimed that the public interest and the necessity to establish competence, justice, and confidence in the criminal justice system served as the Attorney General’s compass.
The decision to take charge of the situation was also influenced by interagency cooperation in the fight against corruption, the DPPF added.
He assured the court that the rights of the defendant would be protected and that no party would suffer injustice as the office reviews the case.
Oyedepo then requested an adjournment to allow for the retrieval and examination of the case file from the ICPC and urged the court to take judicial notice of the Attorney General’s office’s formal takeover of the trial.
Justice Kekemeke granted the application and struck out the charge.
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