The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has retracted the criminal charge filed against senior advocate Mike Ozekhome concerning alleged forgery.
This withdrawal was announced on Tuesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, located in Maitama.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the Attorney General of the Federation had opted for a comprehensive review of the case to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Following this application, which received no opposition from the defense team led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), the court dismissed the three-count charge against Ozekhome.
Ozekhome had initially been arraigned on allegations related to forgery and other associated offenses in a case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The PUNCH reports that the ICPC had filed a three-count criminal charge against Ozekhome at the FCT High Court in Abuja, accusing him of fraud, forgery, and the use of false documents concerning a disputed property in London.
Prosecutors alleged that the senior lawyer knowingly accepted 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.
They contended that these actions violated provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.
On January 29, 2026, Oyedepo informed the court of the Attorney General’s decision to take over the prosecution from the anti-graft agency.
He clarified that this takeover was in accordance with Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate, take over, or discontinue criminal proceedings.
According to Oyedepo, this decision was made in collaboration with the ICPC and aimed to ensure that the prosecution adheres to high standards of effectiveness, efficiency, diligence, and compliance with due process.
He emphasized that the Attorney General was influenced by considerations of public interest and the need to foster confidence, fairness, and competence in the criminal justice system.
The DPPF further remarked that inter-agency cooperation in combating corruption was also a crucial factor in the decision to take control of the matter.
He assured the court that the rights of the defendant would be safeguarded and that no party would face injustice as the office reviews the case.
Ultimately, Oyedepo urged the court to acknowledge the formal takeover of the trial by the Attorney General’s office and requested an adjournment to facilitate the retrieval and review of the case file from the ICPC.
Justice Kekemeke approved the application and dismissed the charges.
