Breaking: AGF drops forgery case against Ozekhome

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the criminal charges against senior advocate Mike Ozekhome over allegations of forgery.

The announcement was made on Tuesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the Attorney General had decided to review the case holistically to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Following the application, which was unopposed by the defence team led by Paul Erokoro, the court struck out the three-count charge against Ozekhome.

Ozekhome had previously been arraigned on allegations of forgery and related offences in a case originally filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The anti-graft agency had accused him of fraud, forgery, and using false documents in connection with a disputed property in London. Prosecutors claimed that he received a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, allegedly presented as a gift, and allegedly used a forged Nigerian passport in support of the claim, which they argued violated provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.

On January 29, 2026, Oyedepo notified the court that the Attorney General had taken over the prosecution from the ICPC under Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the Attorney General to institute, assume, or discontinue criminal proceedings.

He explained that the decision, made in collaboration with the ICPC, was intended to ensure the prosecution adheres to the highest standards of diligence, due process, and effectiveness. Public interest, fairness, and strengthening confidence in the criminal justice system were cited as guiding factors. Inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption was also highlighted as part of the rationale.

Oyedepo assured the court that the defendant’s rights would be protected and that no party would be disadvantaged during the review. He requested the court to take judicial notice of the Attorney General’s formal takeover of the trial and sought an adjournment to retrieve and examine the case file from the ICPC. Justice Kekemeke granted the request and formally struck out the charges.