The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 26 to deliver its ruling on the final forfeiture of a London property allegedly linked to the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni.
The court’s decision followed the failure of any individual or legal representative acting on behalf of Useni’s estate to appear within the legally prescribed 14-day period to contest the forfeiture.
The absence, the court noted, meant no formal objection was raised against transferring the property to the Federal Government.
The case originated from an ex parte application filed in late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which requested an interim forfeiture and preservation order over the property.
The bureau alleged that the asset was acquired using proceeds from unlawful activities.
Justice Binta Nyako had, on November 28, granted the interim forfeiture order and directed the CCB to publicise the decision in a national newspaper.
The advertisement was intended to invite any individual or organisation with a legitimate claim to the property to come forward and prove lawful ownership within 14 days.
The disputed property, located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, has been linked to both Useni, a retired lieutenant-general, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome.
The ownership dispute was also the subject of proceedings before the UK First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) under case reference 2023/0155.
In the UK case, claims were made by an individual identified as “Ms Tali Shani,” while Ozekhome maintained that he received the property as a gift in 2021 from “Mr Tali Shani.”
Witnesses supporting Ozekhome testified that “Mr Tali Shani” had owned the property since 1993 and later appointed Useni as its manager and business associate.
However, lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” presented documents, including identification records and travel documents, to assert ownership.
The tribunal later ruled that all documents submitted in support of Ms Shani’s claim were fraudulent.
In its final decision, the UK tribunal dismissed all competing claims, concluding that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.
With no valid claimant stepping forward within the statutory period in Nigeria, the Abuja court is now set to determine whether the property will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government when it delivers its ruling later this month.
