Ozekhome, Useni’s son secure N10m bail in alleged passport fraud case

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, and Ponfa Useni, son of the late former FCT Minister Jeremiah Useni, were on Friday granted bail in the sum of N10 million each by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama.

The bail was granted by Justice Chizoba Oji shortly after the duo were arraigned on a 12-count charge filed by the Federal Government bordering on the alleged use of a forged Nigerian passport in connection with a disputed property in the United Kingdom.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following their pleas, Tayo Oyetibo, counsel to Ozekhome, and F. R. Onoja, counsel to Useni, urged the court to admit their clients to bail. The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the applications.

In her ruling, Justice Oji granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum. The court ordered that the surety must own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge further directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court pending the determination of the case.

The arraignment marks the commencement of trial proceedings in the matter, which stems from a UK-based property dispute allegedly involving the use of falsified travel documents.