BREAKING: AGF Withdraws Criminal Charges Against Mike Ozekhome

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has withdrawn the criminal charges filed against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, over alleged forgery, bringing the case to an abrupt halt.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 (DPPF), informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation had decided to undertake 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 located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.

Prosecutors had alleged that Ozekhome used a forged Nigerian passport to support his claim of ownership of the property. The alleged actions were said to contravene provisions of 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, invoking Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the AGF to institute, assume, or discontinue criminal proceedings.

Oyedepo told the court that the decision followed consultations with the ICPC to ensure that the prosecution adheres to the highest standards of diligence, fairness, and due process.

He added that considerations of public interest, inter-agency cooperation, and the need to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system guided the decision.

The DPPF assured the court that Ozekhome’s rights would be fully protected and that no injustice would result as the case undergoes review.

Oyedepo subsequently requested an adjournment to enable the Attorney General’s office to retrieve and examine the case file from the ICPC.

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