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NBA raises concern over FG’s silence on Mike Ozekhome’s UK property saga
The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) anti-corruption committee, Babafemi Badejo, says the federal government’s silence on the controversy surrounding a property in the United Kingdom (UK) is “damaging and deafening”.
Badejo said the “absence of tangible process and credible interim updates” on the probe of the property saga contravene the principles of transparency and accountability”.
The property dispute involves Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the late Jeremiah Useni, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In October, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said the federal government would launch an investigation into the property controversy.
In his New Year message, Badejo said in 2025, the committee “witnessed significant strides in embedding anti-corruption mechanisms” within the legal profession.
He said approval by the NBA national executive committee (NEC) for the establishment of anti-corruption committees at branch level is a “pivotal achievement”.
“However, our reflections are tempered by profound concern over developments that threaten to erode public trust in our legal and anti-corruption institutions,” the statement reads.
“The protracted and highly publicised corruption cases involving legal practitioners are beyond private legal problems into a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability, transparency and realisation of the rule of law.
“In 2025, there was the Tali Shani v. Chief Mike Agbedor Ozekhome case that was decided outside our legal jurisdiction but threw problems in Nigeria, including forgery, identity manipulation that trivializes the relevance of our national identity data system, etc.
“While the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation’s initial announcement of a probe was a necessary first step, the ensuing silence is deafening and damaging.
“The absence of tangible progress, credible interim updates, or a definitive timeline for resolution contravenes the principles of transparency and accountability that underpin Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
“Specifically, it undermines Articles 10, 13, and 33 of UNCAC, which mandate public sector transparency, active civil society participation, and the protection of reporting persons.”
Badejo said the committee has identified urgent priorities for 2026, including institutional accountability, preventive advocacy, strategic litigation & policy engagement.
The property dispute was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.
The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.
Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.
A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).
Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.
On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc., were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.
The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.
The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.
The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,
The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.
It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.
The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”
The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.
It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that oversaw the party’s affairs illegal and invalidating all decisions taken by the committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the David Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the caretaker committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
The verdict is expected to trigger fresh political uncertainty within the ADC, particularly over Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the party has vowed to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
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