The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over his alleged involvement in a disputed property transaction in the United Kingdom popularly referred to as the “Tali Shani affair.” The development marks a significant turn in an already complex legal matter that has drawn national attention.
Sources familiar with the case disclosed that the senior lawyer was taken into custody shortly after a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) struck out a forgery charge previously filed against him. He is expected to be arraigned in court imminently.
Arrest Follows Court Decision
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials reportedly moved swiftly to detain Ozekhome after the FCT High Court dismissed a forgery charge against him. The charge, which had been pending before the court, was struck out in a ruling that effectively cleared the immediate legal hurdle in that specific case.
However, the detention appears to be connected to ongoing investigations surrounding the alleged property dispute in the United Kingdom. While details of the allegations remain limited, the matter has been widely described as involving contested ownership and documentation relating to a property transaction abroad.
Legal observers note that the timing of the arrest—coming immediately after the court’s decision—raises fresh questions about the broader scope of the anti-graft agency’s investigation and the direction of the prosecution.
EFCC Fresh Charges and Expanding Legal Battle
The development is said to be distinct from a fresh 12-count charge filed earlier this week by the federal government against the senior advocate. The new charge, reportedly submitted on Tuesday, is understood to address issues separate from the forgery allegation that was struck out.
Although official details of the 12-count charge have not been fully disclosed to the public, sources indicate that the federal government intends to pursue prosecution vigorously. Ozekhome is expected to be formally charged in court in connection with the “Tali Shani affair” as proceedings unfold.
The case adds another layer to what is shaping up to be a complex legal confrontation involving a prominent member of the Nigerian Bar and federal authorities. As one of the country’s most recognisable legal figures, Ozekhome’s detention is likely to attract considerable public and professional scrutiny.
EFCC: Legal and Public Implications
The detention of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria by the anti-corruption agency underscores the EFCC’s stated commitment to investigating high-profile individuals, regardless of status. At the same time, legal experts emphasise that the principle of presumption of innocence remains fundamental, and that all allegations must be tested in court.
The matter is also expected to generate debate within legal and civic circles about due process, prosecutorial discretion, and the intersection of domestic investigations with alleged transactions abroad.
As the case progresses, attention will focus on the formal charges, the evidence presented by EFCC, and the court’s interpretation of the issues at stake in what has now become a closely watched legal contest.
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