By Azeez Sulaiman
Justice Chizoba Oji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, on Friday admitted Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Mr Ponfa Useni, to bail in the sum of N10M each following their arraignment on a 12-count charge.
The charges were instituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation over allegations of document forgery.
The defendants were accused of forging documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, allegedly used to assert ownership of a property in London said to have been unlawfully acquired by the late Gen. Jeremiah Useni.
Both Ozekhome and Useni pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the prosecution, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not oppose the bail applications moved by Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, for Ozekhome and Mr F.R. Onoja, SAN, for Useni.
In her ruling, Justice Oji granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10M with one surety each. The sureties must own property within the FCT. The court also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports.
The judge directed that although the proceedings were held on a Friday, the defendants may leave court if they are unable to immediately meet the bail conditions but must return on Monday to perfect them. Failure to do so, the court held, would result in their remand.
The case adds another layer to ongoing legal disputes surrounding claims over foreign-held assets linked to prominent public figures.
