The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, made an order for the final forfeiture of a United Kingdom property linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the Federal Government.
Justice Binta Nyako held that the motion on notice for the final forfeiture of the property moved by counsel for the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Sufyan Ahmad, was meritorious and accordingly granted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the house is located at No. 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX.
The CCB, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2333/2025, had named the Administrators of the Estate of late Gen. Jeremiah Useni, the Executors of the Estate of Late Gen. Jeremiah Useni and the Property No. 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.
Ahmad told the court that the property sought to be forfeited is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
Also named in the property dispute is Cgueg Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
The matter, filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number: REF/2023/0155, listed Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome was said to have claimed that he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).
Mr Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.
On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.
However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake and subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed. (NAN)