Court strikes out Ozekhome’s property forgery charges

By Edith Nwapi

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, on Tuesday withdrew the charge filed by the Federal Government against Mike Ozekhome SAN.

He was dragged to court before Justice Peter Kekemeke FCT high court, Maitama, Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a three-count charge bordering on property forgery.

In the earlier sitting, the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, informed the court that the AGF was taking over the case from ICPC and asked for an adjournment to enable the AGF study the case file.

At the resumed sitting , Oyedepo informed the court that he was instructed by the AGF to withdraw the instant charge against the defendant pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

According to the DPPF, the withdrawal was to enable the AGF to strengthen his review of all the cases before all the agencies.

Paul Erokoro SAN, counsel for Ozekhome who led over 15 SANs and other retinue of lawyers, had no objection to the application for withdrawal of the charge.

Based on this development, the court subsequently struck out the instant charge.

(NAN)