BREAKING: AGF withdraws criminal charges against Mike Ozekhome

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the criminal charges against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, over alleged forgery, bringing the case to an unexpected halt.

The development was announced on Tuesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, during proceedings before Justice Peter Kekemeke.

Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation had opted to take a comprehensive review of the matter to determine the most appropriate legal course of action.

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 filed against the senior lawyer.

Ozekhome had been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on allegations of forgery, fraud, and the use of false documents in connection with a disputed property at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. Prosecutors claimed that Ozekhome allegedly used a forged Nigerian passport to support his claim of ownership of the property, acts they argued contravened both the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the FCT Penal Code.

The Attorney General’s office formally took over the prosecution from the ICPC on January 29, 2026, citing Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the office to institute, assume, or discontinue criminal proceedings.

Oyedepo told the court that the decision was taken in consultation with the ICPC to ensure the prosecution adheres to the highest standards of diligence, fairness, and compliance with due process. He explained that public interest considerations, inter-agency cooperation, and the need to reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system guided the decision.

The DPPF assured the court that Ozekhome’s rights would be protected and that no injustice would occur as the case underwent review. Oyedepo then requested an adjournment to allow the Attorney General’s office to retrieve and examine the case file from the ICPC.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently struck out the charges, effectively pausing the case pending further action by the Attorney General’s office.