The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Committee has thrown its weight behind the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), following his announcement of a probe into the controversial property dispute in Britain involving human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (SAN).
The dispute, which came before Judge Ewan Paton of the UK First-Tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Case No: REF/2023/0155), pits one Tali Shani (Applicant) against Ozekhome (Respondent) over ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
According to a statement issued by Prof. Babafemi Badejo on behalf of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee, the matter raises “several improprieties” that demand thorough investigation, particularly regarding the authenticity of the widely circulated judgment and the role played by some Nigerian lawyers mentioned in the proceedings.
The Committee urged that any culpable legal practitioners found wanting should be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions.
Furthermore, the NBA body called for in-depth scrutiny of allegations surrounding fraudulent identity manipulations, including the procurement of fake National Identification Numbers (NINs), forged ECOWAS passports, and the use of falsified MTN numbers in an attempt to impersonate individuals allegedly linked to the case.
“These fraudulent activities point to collusion between civil servants and certain lawyers, all of which not only undermine Nigeria’s image but also amount to criminal conduct deserving of prosecution,” the statement read.
Judge Paton, in his ruling, reportedly linked the acquisition of the disputed property to the late Lt. General Jeremiah Useni, whom he suggested may have obtained the asset through questionable means.
The judge further noted that the pattern bore similarity to a £1.9 million case decided in 2022 at the Royal Court of Jersey in Attorney-General v. Useni.
In light of these findings, the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to secure Nigeria’s interest in the London property with a view to potential restitution.
The Committee also expressed concern that, in the past, several high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria fizzled out once public attention waned.
It called on the Federal Government to ensure that this case does not follow the same path.
“The credibility and sustainability of the legal profession in Nigeria is at stake,” Prof. Badejo emphasised.
The Committee recommended that the Alternate Chairman of the NBA National Anti-Corruption Committee, Dr George Ekpungu, and the Chairman of the NBA Ikorodu Branch Anti-Corruption Committee, Mr Bayo Akinlade, be incorporated into the investigative team to bolster credibility and transparency in the process.