FCT Court Grants Mike Ozekhome Six-Week UK Medical Trip Amid Ongoing Forgery Trial, Orders Passport Return by August 26

The courtroom in Maitama, Abuja, took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the Federal Capital Territory High Court temporarily eased restrictions on prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, allowing him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention for six weeks. The decision, delivered by Justice Chizoba Oji, came with strict conditions, including the mandatory return of his international passport by August 26, 2026, and the continuation of his ongoing forgery and impersonation trial.

The case, which also involves co-defendant Ponfa Useni, stems from a complex international property dispute linked to allegations of forged identities, falsified documents, and a contested London property said to have been secretly acquired decades earlier. Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation maintain that the defendants participated in a network of impersonation involving a fictitious identity used to claim ownership of a high-value property in the United Kingdom.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution confirmed no objection to the temporary release of Ozekhome’s passport but insisted it be re-submitted shortly after his return. The court also reaffirmed bail conditions earlier set at ₦10 million with one surety each, while adjourning the case to September 28 for further hearing.

The unfolding trial continues to attract national attention, not only because of the high-profile nature of the accused but also due to its international dimension, with findings from a UK tribunal already playing a significant role in shaping the allegations now being tested in a Nigerian court.