The Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the criminal charges filed against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome over alleged forgery, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama confirmed on Tuesday.
The withdrawal was communicated to Justice Peter Kekemeke by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who explained that the AGF had taken a comprehensive review of the case to determine the most appropriate course of action.
“The Attorney General of the Federation has decided to take a holistic look at the matter to ensure that prosecution meets the highest standards of effectiveness, diligence, and compliance with due process,” Oyedepo told the court.
Following the application, which was not opposed by Ozekhome’s defence team led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), the court struck out the three-count charge against the senior lawyer.
Ozekhome had faced allegations of forgery and other offences, originally filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Prosecutors had accused him of using a forged Nigerian passport to claim ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, which he allegedly received as a gift.
They argued that the acts violated provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.
Oyedepo explained that on 29 January 2026, he notified the court that the AGF had assumed control of the prosecution from the ICPC pursuant to Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the Attorney General to institute, take over, or discontinue criminal proceedings.
“This decision was guided by public interest considerations, the need to instill confidence in the criminal justice system, and to ensure inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption,” Oyedepo said.
He assured the court that Ozekhome’s rights would be protected and that no injustice would occur while the case is reviewed.
Oyedepo also requested that the court take judicial notice of the AGF’s formal takeover and adjourn proceedings to allow for retrieval and review of the case file from the ICPC.
Justice Kekemeke granted the application and formally struck out the charges against Ozekhome.
