From Victor Osula, Abuja
A prosecution witness in the ongoing London property fraud trial of human rights lawyer Mike Ozekhome and businessman Ponfa Useni has told an Abuja High Court that a passport bearing the name “Tali Shani” was not issued by the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS).
Mr. Aridegbe Akim, a principal officer at NIS and the first prosecution witness, said this during Friday’s proceedings, explaining that the passport, numbered A07535463, is absent from NIS records and is therefore fake.
The defendants are facing a 12-count charge of alleged forgery filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on behalf of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The charges involve allegedly forged documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, to claim a London property linked to the late Gen. Jeremiah Useni. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo led Akim in evidence, tendering multiple documents, including letters exchanged between EFCC and NIS, and both genuine and suspected forged passports. The court admitted the documents as exhibits.
Akim told the court that NIS follows a systematic process for passport issuance, including online application, integration with the National Identification Number (NIN), and encryption via the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which allows international borders to access biometric data.
“On typing in Tali Shani’s name, no record was found,” he said, confirming the passport’s illegitimacy.
He further explained that checks extended to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) revealed no record of the individual, and similar investigations for another name, Abdulkadir Lawal, also returned no matches.
Cross-examined by Ozekhome’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, Akim stated he became a principal officer in December 2023 and noted Nigeria’s full ICAO upgrades under PKG and PKI in 2025.
Following the testimony, Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the case to April 15 for continuation of cross-examination.
