Justice Chizoba Orji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has granted bail of ₦10 million each to Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and his co-defendant shortly after their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge brought against them by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Ozekhome and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, pleaded not guilty to the charges, in which they are, among other allegations, accused of forging documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, to lay claim to a property in London allegedly procured unlawfully by the late General Jeremiah Useni.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications when Ozekhome’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), and F. R. Onoja (SAN), representing Useni, applied for bail on behalf of the defendants.
In her ruling, Justice Chizoba Orji granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million, with one surety each who must own property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Orji also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court.
She noted that since the proceedings took place on a Friday, the defendants may return to their homes if they are unable to immediately meet the bail conditions, but must perfect the conditions by Monday, failing which they would be remanded in prison custody.
