The proposed criminal trial of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over the disputed property at 79 Randall Avenue, London, raises serious concerns about prosecutorial discretion, abuse of process, and misuse of criminal justice powers.
A careful reading of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) ruling, delivered by Mr. Ewan Paton, shows a stark disconnect between the tribunal’s civil findings and Nigerian authorities’ decision to prosecute Chief Ozekhome while leaving the true architects of the fraud — Mohammed Edewor Esq, Nicholas Ekhorutomwen, Ayodele Damola, and Anakwe Obasi — untouched.
The London tribunal did not accuse Ozekhome of criminal conduct. It concluded that the property transfer failed due to lack of title and rejected Ozekhome’s evidence as implausible, but it found no forgery, false identities, or intentional fraud on his part. In contrast, the tribunal identified clear fraud, document falsification, and deception orchestrated by Edewor, Ekhorutomwen, Damola, and Obasi, including the creation of a fictitious claimant, “Ms Tali Shani.”
The ICPC’s decision to charge Chief Ozekhome — a private legal practitioner and not a public officer — is legally indefensible. Any legitimate criminal investigation should target the creators of the fraud, not an attorney acting on his client’s representations.
Dozens of eminent lawyers, led by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, are defending Ozekhome, signaling the prosecutorial overreach. In the interest of justice and public confidence, the Attorney General of the Federation should immediately discontinue charges against Chief Ozekhome and initiate a proper criminal investigation into Edewor, Ekhorutomwen, Damola, and Obasi.
Continuing the trial converts prosecutorial power into persecution and must stop immediately.
Mazi Echika Ejido, Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Secretary of NBA Nyanya-Karu Branch, Abuja.
