The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday granted bail of N10 million each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, following their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on alleged forgery.
The charges were instituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which accused the defendants of forging documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney.
The documents were allegedly used to assert ownership of a London property said to have been unlawfully acquired by the late Jeremiah Useni.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not object to the bail applications filed on behalf of the defendants by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and F.R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni.
In her ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each, with one surety apiece.
The court directed that each surety must own property within the Federal Capital Territory. The judge also ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the court.
Justice Oji noted that since the proceedings took place on a Friday, the defendants could return home if they were unable to meet the bail conditions immediately.
However, she directed them to perfect the conditions and report back to court on Monday, warning that failure to do so would result in their remand in custody.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for further proceedings.
