Alleged Forgery: FG Files Fresh Charge Against Ozekhome

A day after it withdrew the three-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Federal Government has filed a fresh 12-count charge against Mike Ozekhome (SAN). 

Channels Television obtained a copy of the charge sheet dated February 24th, 2026, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

In the charge filed before the FCT High Court sitting in Abuja, Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, are listed as the defendants in the criminal suit.

In the fresh count, Ozekhome, Ponfa Useni (Aka Tali Shani) and the General Jeremiah Useni now deceased allegedly conspired in the year 2020 to procure a false Nigerian passport in the name of Tali Shani with the intent of using same to support their claim to a property, in the United Kingdom, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.

READ ALSO: [Alleged Forgery] Court Strikes Out Suit Against Ozekhome

Find below the full counts in the fresh charge:

COUNT 1

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes in the year 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act, to wit: making a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim of a property, lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.

COUNT 2

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometime between the 30th day of May, 2020 and 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.

COUNT 3

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use as genuine a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani to facilitate your claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.

COUNT 4

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes between 2023 and 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly used as genuine a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and you thereby committed an offence of forgery contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 364 of the same Law.

COUNT 5

That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court falsely personated Tani Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character made a Power of Attorney wherein you held yourself out as Tali Shani and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 179 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under the same section of the same Law.

COUNT 6

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, abetted the commission of an offence to wit: personation of one Tali Shani by Ponfa Useni who with such assumed false character made and executed with you as a party, an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 to facilitate your claim of a property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 83, 84 of the Penal Code Law, 2009 and punishable under section 179 of the same Law.

Count 7

That you Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja on or about the 30th day of May,2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court cheated by personation when you pretended to be one Tali Shani, a fictitious person and with such assumed character executed an Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 with Chief Mike. A.A Ozekhome, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 322 of the same section of the same Law.

Count 8

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, abetted the commission of an offence to wit: cheating by personation when you jointly executed an irrevocable power of Attorney dated the 30th day of May,2020 with one Tali Shani, a fictitious person to facilitate your claim of a property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 83, 84, 321 of the Penal Code Law, 2009 and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.

Count 9

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had under your control a property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom which property is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained by General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased) with a fictious name Tali Shani, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 319A of the Penal Code Law, 2009.

Count 10

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had under your control the sum of Eighteen Thousand Pounds Sterling being part of the rent accrued from a property lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom which property is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained by General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased) with a fictious name Tali Shani, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 319A of the Penal Code Law, 2009.

Count 11

That you, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, Male, Adult of 55 Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, Ponfa Useni (aka Tali Shani), Male, Adult of 12 Dagash M. Street, Kado Estate, Phase 1, Abuja and General Jeremiah Useni (now deceased), sometimes in the year 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act, to wit: making a false document titled: RE: REQUEST FOR AUTHENTICATION OF NIGERIAN PASSPORT NO. A07535463 BELONGING TO MR. TALI SHANI dated 4th May,2023 and purported same to have been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service with the intent of using the same to support your claim of a property, lying, being and situate at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2, United Kingdom, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under section 364 of the same Law.

 COUNT 12

Celtic lose Trusty appeal but King red overturned

Celtic have been unsuccessful in their appeal against the red card shown to Auston Trusty in their Scottish Premiership defeat by Hibernian, with the defender now to serve a three-match ban.

However, St Mirren were successful in challenging Richard King’s sending off in Saturday’s loss to Motherwell and the centre-back has had his suspension overturned.

Trusty, 27, was dismissed with the score 1-1 at Celtic Park following an incident with Hibs’ Jamie McGrath as the pair jostled at a corner. The defending champions lost 2-1.

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Violent conduct carries an automatic two-match suspension but Trusty incurred an additional one-match ban, having previously been sent off in the competition this season.

However, Trusty will be available for the Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Rangers on 8 March.

The Scottish FA said in relation to the Trusty decision: “Payment of £650 Appeal Deposit to be made within 30 days.”

Speaking after full-time on Sunday, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said “I’ve just had a word with the referee. He said he was going to just have a word with the two players then VAR intervened and said it was violent conduct.

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St Mirren defender King, 24, was sent off in his side’s 5-0 defeat by Motherwell in Paisley on Saturday. With his team trailing 3-0, the centre-back was involved in an incident with Callum Slattery and the Motherwell player fell to the ground.

Referee Calum Scott did not see the incident, issuing the red card on the advice of his assistant, and VAR did not intervene to ask him to review footage.

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Five Must-Know Facts About Acting IGP Tunji Disu

In a shakeup of the police hierarchy in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector General of Police. 

Disu was appointed after Kayode Egbetokun resigned as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

“In view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect,” presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

“In compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation,” he said.

READ ALSO: Kayode Egbetokun Resigns As IGP — Presidency

Here are five things to know about the acting IGP Tunji Disu:

1. World-Class Athlete

Outside his policing duties, the acting IGP is a judoka and has competed in several international championships.

In August 2022, Disu won a silver medal in the U.S. Open Judo Championship. The ex-commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) contested in the minus 100 kg category of the veteran division in Brookline, Massachusetts.

2. The ‘Good Guys’ Rebranding

During his stint as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos from 2015 to 2021, the police chief was credited with rebranding the police unit as “The Good Guys.”

The move was part of measures to enhance trust among Lagosians and give a human face to policing.

3. Strong Academic Background

With three degrees, the former RRS boss is one of the most academically decorated officers in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). He has a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from the Lagos State University (LASU).

Disu also bagged a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Adekunle Ajasin University and another in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from LASU.

4. Extensive Experience in Rivers, FCT Command, IRT

The Lagos-born officer has led the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State commands of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He was appointed as Commissioner of Police in the FCT on September 19, 2025, a position that saw him move from Rivers State, where he was the commissioner.

He became commissioner in Rivers on November 9, 2023, and was credited to have led the dismantling of criminal gangs and a general reduction in crimes.

The acting IGP served as the head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), taking over from Abba Kyari. His appointment came on August 2, 2021, under the leadership of ex police chief, Usman Alkali Baba.

 5. Return To Abuja

Having just assumed office as the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of FCID Alagbon, Lagos, Disu, who has been in the NPF since 1992, is returning to Abuja, where he served as a commissioner just some months ago.

Disu: A New Challenge Ahead

Prestianni trains at Bernabeu despite match ban over racism allegation

Bobbie Jackson

BBC Sport journalist

Gianluca Prestianni trained alongside his Benfica team-mates at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium despite facing a suspension relating to a racism allegation.

The winger is provisionally banned from Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real in the Spanish capital.

Vinicius Jr alleged that he was racially abused by the Argentine shortly after scoring a stunning goal that earned Real a 1-0 win in the first leg.

Prestianni, who denies racially abusing Vinicius, is set to miss Wednesday’s return leg in Madrid after being given a one-game provisional ban by Uefa.

Benfica are appealing against the sanction, despite the belief that it is unlikely to have any “practical effect” before Wednesday’s match.

‘Vinicius didn’t do anything bad’

Earlier on Tuesday, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Vinicius Jr’s celebration in last week’s Champions League tie in Portugal did not “justify a suspected act of racism”.

Vinicius was shown a yellow card for celebrating in front of the Benfica supporters after his goal in Lisbon.

Speaking after the game, Benfica boss Jose Mourinho said he believed the Brazilian forward had acted disrespectfully and incited the crowd.

“Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way,” added Mourinho.

Asked about the comments from his former Chelsea manager, Courtois said: “Mourinho is Mourinho and, as a coach, you’ll always defend your club.

“But it bothers me that Vinicius’ celebration is being used against him.

“Vini didn’t do anything bad. He celebrated the same way many rivals have celebrated against us.

“It happened, and we can’t justify a suspected act of racism because of a celebration. I think we have to be less stupid as a society.”

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Courtois refused to be drawn on comments from Benfica president Rui Costa, who said Prestianni “is not racist” and deserves the club’s trust after “being crucified”, but reiterated his support for his own team-mate.

“Vini has never said anything like that, so I’m 100% sure he heard it,” said the Belgian.

“I believe him completely. Since he’s keeping quiet, we’ll never know for sure, but there’s not much more we can do.”

The tie was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted referee Francois Letexier to the incident, before his team-mates temporarily left the pitch.

Courtois said Real were prepared to “stand their ground”, but agreed to complete the game after Vinicius said he wanted to continue.

There were also reports of racist gestures in the stands at Estadio da Luz.

“The other things that happened in the stands, in my opinion, warrant stopping the match and kicking those people out,” added Courtois.

“As footballers, we don’t see everything, but it happens when we’re focused on the game. There have to be people in charge who see that.

“There’s a Benfica security guard who’s two metres away and he has to act. We can keep improving in these areas… and stop being so foolish.”

Uefa has subsequently sanctioned Prestianni, 20, on a provisional basis, pending the result of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.

The European governing body said further punishment could be handed out once that investigation is completed.

Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa urged Uefa to use this incident as a chance to make a statement.

“We have a great opportunity to mark a turning point in the fight against racism,” he said.

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‘Equal in decay’ – Mayweather v Pacquiao is another boxing ‘carnival’

Coral Barry

Combat Sports Senior Journalist
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Floyd Mayweather, 49, and Manny Pacquiao, 47, will contest their rematch in a professional bout in Las Vegas on 19 September.

It is a weird fight, “a carnival” as Steve Bunce aptly puts it. It is not one that boxing fans have been clamouring for. Nor were they ever considering how the first fight went in 2015 – delivered five years too late and as stale as feared.

“Carnival” boxing events, however, have become Netflix’s trademark. The streaming platform values one-off, big impact fights that may have little shelf life but burn bright in the moment.

“It’s not the first carnival fight on Netflix,” 5 Live Boxing expert Bunce told 5 Live Breakfast.

“We’ve had Mike Tyson against Jake Paul. We’ve had Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua.

“We’re so far down the freak fight road that this one doesn’t actually raise any alarms bells.

“It’ll just be two men, way past their best in a legitimate fight that is nothing more than an ego-driven sparring session.

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Mayweather and Pacquiao are ‘equal in decay’

Boxing has a long history of carefully constructed mismatches. Mayweather championed and perfected the genre, fighting UFC star Conor McGregor in a competitively pointless but massively lucrative bout in 2017.

McGregor was a novice and Mayweather carried him through ten rounds before bringing an end to the contest.

Normally, exhibitions and “freak fights” were confined to the top of some luxury building with the wealthy paying a massive fee to see their favourite boxer up close.

The great Muhammad Ali reaped the benefit of this custom, fighting Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976 in front of 14,00 in Tokyo.

Irish boxer Mick Conlan believes money will be the driving factor for both men.

“They are two of the greatest of their generation but they are very old and must need money or this fight wouldn’t be happening,” he tells BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

This is the sell, an anything can happen event where anything is definitely not going to happen.

Mayweather brought this tradition to the big stage when he fought McGregor on pay-per-view at the T-Mobile Arena and people have been following his example ever since.

With Jake Paul turning the art into the biggest industry in boxing with Netflix in recent years, it is perhaps no surprise Mayweather has returned to get in on the act.

But unlike many of these weird and worrying events – see Paul v 58-year-old Mike Tyson – this contest seems at least from a health point of view, easy to digest.

“They are both similarly aged,” Bunce says.

“One’s 49, one’s 47. They’ve had similar amount of fights.

What will the rules be?

It is yet to be confirmed what exactly the rules will be, but the rematch will be a professional bout and count to each man’s record.

Pacquiao has been in and out of the ring professionally and in exhibitions for years.

He was the oldest welterweight champion at the age of 40 in 2019 and came close to making it aged 46 when he drew with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in the summer of 2024.

Mayweather has not fought professionally since becoming 50-0 by beating McGregor in 2017, but he has competed in eight exhibition bouts since then, including against YouTuber and WWE star Logan Paul.

Both men will be subject to extra tests as they are over the age of 40, but neither will be expected to fail.

“The claims are that this will be a real fight,” Bunce adds.

“They’ll wear 10oz gloves, 12, three-minute rounds and there will be no special rules – allegedly.”

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The Sphere provides platform for groundbreaking event

Massive versions of Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili are projected onto a backdrop looming over an octgaon at a UFC event at the SphereGetty Images

Despite the fact a fight between two boxers nearing 50 is unlikely to set the sporting world alight, the competitive aspect seems secondary to the product.

“[The first fight] generated unbelievable sums of money. The gate itself, the tickets, generated $72m,” Bunce says. “[But] it was a dreadful fight. It was a stinker.”

Mayweather, however, is a master promoter, Pacquiao is loved by millions – the build-up will be as much the offering as the fight night.

Netflix has over 200m households globally and the bout will take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas which can hold 20,000.

After what the UFC achieved visually with their event there in 2024, it could be a completely new kind of viewing experience for a boxing fight.

Netflix has offered a fresh approach to fights, blending a big-show American style broadcasting with big-name expert analysts and presenters and drawing in the entertaiment world.

And these are two legends of the sport reviving one of boxing’s most famous rivalries of the last 50 years.

The appetite, as proven by Paul and Netflix’s past success, is absolutely there.

“You wll naturally watch it,” Bunce says and Conlan agrees.

“It’s unwanted but then people will think, ‘it’s Pacquiao v Mayweather – of course I will watch’,” Conlan says.

“I would love Pacquiao to win,” he adds.

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Chang stuns Murphy to make history at Welsh Open

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China’s Chang Bingyu caused a Welsh Open shock by beating former winner Shaun Murphy 4-0 – and became only the ninth player in history to make four consecutive century breaks.

The 23-year-old went into the first-round encounter in Llandudno ranked 54th in the world, 46 places below Englishman Murphy.

But that counted for nothing as the 2020 winner’s hopes of repeating his feat at Venue Cymru were ended at the first hurdle.

Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher suffered the same fate as Brecel, as he lost 4-0 against China’s Zhou Yuelong.

England’s Stan Moody, 19, did not lose a frame in his first-round win over compatriot Jimmy Robertson while another Chinese star, Zhao Xintong, took the first step towards winning a third consecutive ranking event as he beat follow countryman Fan Zhengyi 4-3.

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Welsh Open day two

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Evening session

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