The federal government has withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome.
The decision was disclosed on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had filed a three-count charge of alleged forgery against Ozekhome on January 16.
The AGF took over the case on January 26, stating that it would prosecute the matter with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law.”
At Tuesday’s proceedings scheduled for Ozekhome’s arraignment, Counsel Oyedepo moved an application to withdraw the charge.
He told the court that the office of the AGF required time to review and consolidate issues involving different investigating agencies.
According to him, the review would help strengthen the prosecution and ensure that the case is handled in the public interest to instill confidence, fairness and competence in the criminal justice system.
The defence team led by Paul Erokoro did not oppose the application.
Justice Peter Kekemeke granted the application and struck out the case.
Mike Ozekhome had been accused of presenting a falsified Nigerian passport and other documents to support his claim to a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred in August 2021 in Maitama, Abuja, within the court’s jurisdiction.
The three counts relate to giving false information, use of forged documents and attempting to mislead a public authority.
