Court admits Ozekhome, co-defendant to N10m bail over alleged forgery

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, on Friday granted bail in the sum of N10 million each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, following their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on alleged forgery.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, accused the defendants of forging documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, allegedly used to claim ownership of a London property said to have been unlawfully procured by the late Jeremiah Useni.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts preferred against them.
At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications presented by defence counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and F.R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni.
In a brief ruling, trial judge, Justice Chizoba Oji, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety apiece. The court ordered that each surety must own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Oji further directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court as part of the bail conditions.
The judge noted that since the arraignment took place on a Friday, the defendants may return home if unable to immediately fulfil the bail conditions but must report back to court on Monday to perfect the terms or risk being remanded in a correctional facility.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for further proceedings.