Metro

Ozekhome’s Trial: Tali Shani’s Passport Fake, Not Issued By NIS, Witness Tells Court

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2026

The Principal Staff Officer to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Aridegbe Akim, today told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the ongoing trial of constitutional lawyer, Professor Mike Ozekhome and one other that the passport with the name Tali Shani was fake as the NIS did not issue it.

Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni were dragged before Justice Chizoba Oji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a 12-count charge bordering on forgery.

They were, among others, accused of making a false Nigerian international passport No. A07535463 with the name Tali Shani, and purported same to have been issued by the NIS with the intent of using same to support claim of ownership to a property known as No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.

The offence, according to prosecution, is contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the FCT 2006 and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.

At the commencement of trial today, the first prosecution witness, Aridegbe Akim, told the court that the purported passport issued to Tali Shani with the number was fake as it was not in the NIS database.

According to him, “The Nigerian passport A07535463 was not issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service, it is not in our database. The passport belonging to Tali Shani is fake.”

Led in his evidence-in-chief by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, Akim told the court that the Immigration Service received letters from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to authenticate the passports of Ponfa Useni and Tali Shani.

He informed that based on EFCC’s request, the Service checked its database and discovered that the passport bearing Tali Shani was not issued by the NIS, while the other belonging to Ponfa Useni was issued by the NIS.

He said upon this discovery, the Immigration forwarded its finding to EFCC.

The senior prosecuting counsel, therefore, tendered the EFCC’s letter to the NIS to authenticate the passports and the Immigration’s response to the anti-corruption commission as evidence.

Counsel for Ozekhome, Tayo Oyetibo SAN and that of Useni, F.R. Onoja SAN, did not object to admissibility of the letters. They were subsequently admitted by the court and marked as exhibits.

When asked by the prosecutor to explain the procedure for issuance of Nigerian passport to the court, Akim said after an online payment had been made by an applicant, the NIS database would generate the record and the breeder documents would then be generated and inputted into the system, alongside the National Identification Number (NIN).

This, according to the PW1, would then generate the data for the applicant.

The prosecution witness further told the court that Nigerian passports were now encrypted into the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), adding that this made it easier for international borders to access biometric data.

“Any passport the NIS produces goes through a systematic process before its final production. But such was not the case with Tali Shani,”Akim told the court.

He added that the NIS system works in such a way that once a name inserted, it brings out the particulars and history of that person.

He told the court that, “On inserting this Tali Shani in the NIS system, no record was found,” adding that the NIS did not have any record of sales in respect of this particular Tali Shani passport.

The PW1 told the court that EFCC later sent a letter NIS to release Abdulkadir Lawal for interview, adding that the Immigration did not find such person on its nominal roll after checking legal unit.

He added that the NIS extended its search of the said Abdulkadir Lawal to IPPIS to be sure of its discovery and no such name existed.

He said that, “Of the service, no name of such exists. We then communicated our findings to the EFCC.”

Also, the witness said EFCC requested the authentication of a letter the said Abdulkadir Lawal wrote, which prompted the Comptroller General of NIS to direct that a team be set up on the EFCC’s request.

Akim told the court that the team was eventually set up and was the head of the team, adding the team discovered that the said Abdulkadir Lawal never represented the NIS.

“The letter written by the same Abdulkadir Lawal never represented the NIS. This means the letter is fake,” the PW1 told the court.

Again, the prosecutor tendered the correspondences between EFCC NIS in evidence through the witness but both Oyetibo and Onoja reserved their objection to the admissibility of the documents to the final address.

The documents were admitted and marked as exhibits by the court.

While being cross examined by the counsel for Ozekhome, Oyetibo SAN, the witness informed the court that he became a principal staff officer in December 2023 and had prior to that time, been on out-post duty outside Nigeria.

He informed the court that Nigeria was fully admitted into PKG and PKI and an ICAO upgrade in 2025.

Following a request for an adjournment by Oyetibo, Justice Oji adjourned the case to April 15 for continuation of cross-examination of PW1.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

Imo Court Sentences 34-year-old Man To Death By Hanging For Kidnapping, Armed Robbery

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Editor

A State High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Johnbosco Chidera Ashiegbu to death by hanging after finding him guilty of serial armed robbery and kidnapping.

Johnbosco, a native of Amaiyi Akabo in Ikeduru LGA of the State, was said to have been arrested in 2024 along Okigwe road, Owerri, in a stolen vehicles and after interrogation, he confessed to have been in the business of armed robbery and hostage taking, operating within Imo and Abia States with his gang.

Ruling on the matter, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice C.N Akowundu said the defendant was guilty of all the eight count charges against him as the prosecuting counsel proved beyond reasonable doubt all the charges leveled against the accused person.

He recalled that in 2024, Ashiegbu and his gang who are currently at large, trailed one Mr. Rex Edwin Achiefula to his house at Aba while driving along with his wife and whisked the couple away, robbing them of their car and the sum of US2800 dollars.

While the wife was freed along the road, the husband was blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where he was held hostage for close to six days.

Meanwhile, the defendant and his gang members that same day, about same time, before the abduction of Mr Rex had already abducted one Emmanuel Okezie who was also driving along the same route with Mr. Rex.

Their victims were later released after the payment of a ransom of 3.7million naira and 15 million naira, respectively.

Justice Akobundu, in the judgement, further remarked that Ashiegbu drives in fleet of cars and routinely changes ownership of all vehicles he stole to his name, including the ones he gifted his elder brother and sister during her birthday celebration.

Meanwhile, the defense counsel pleaded for leniency that the accused had not been convicted of any offense in the past and is the breadwinner of his family married with children who depend on him.

Waving out the request from the defendant counsel, the Judge said that the defendant himself did not show any sign of remorse throughout the trial.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Ikenna Obi, a Senior State Counsel in Ministry of Justice, urged the court to give its pronouncement in line with the dictates of the law.

He noted that the defendant had not shown any atom of repentance even as he had been found guilty of all the charges before the Court.

The Judge, in his final judgement, said the accused was guilty of all charges levelled against him and therefore sentenced to death by hanging.

Metro

12 Suspected Cultists Arrested In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Editor

Twelve suspected cultists have been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).

The suspects were arrested at Amazing Grace Estate, Elele Community, Uzairue, Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Edo State Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, in a statement on Monday, said the arrest was carried out on May 7 following operatives’ swift response to credible intelligence.

She stated that during preliminary investigations, seven of the suspects confessed to be cultists, with some identified as members of the Aye and Vikings confraternity.

Ikoedem said the operatives recovered a gray Mercedes Benz Jeep with registration number GWA 471 DS allegedly belonging to one Balogun Isreal, who is currently at large.

The Statement read in part, “Operatives of the Edo State Police Command in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) have arrested 12 suspected cultists at Amazing Grace Estate, Elele Community, Uzairue, Auchi in Edo North following operatives’ swift response to credible intelligence.

“The suspects, Abiola Anabgaifo, 33yrs; Idogo Joshua, 28yrs; Oseni Sani, 22yrs; Aminu Abubakar, 19yrs; Iyamah Precious, 29yrs; Usman Rapheal, 29yrs; Ogene Jude, 31yrs; Ibrahim Akeem, 27yrs; Tunde Bright, 20yrs; Jude Edeh, 21yrs; Godwin Edeh, 19yrs; and Aigbona Clifford, 20yrs, being were arrested on 7th May, 2026 at about 6:00pm after they allegedly mobilized from Okpella to launch attacks on perceived rivals.

“Preliminary investigations, seven of the suspects confessed to being cultists, with some identified as members of the Aye and Vikings confraternity.”

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response and professionalism of these Officers, stressing that the Command will sustain its crackdown on cultism and violent crimes across the State.

He noted that all suspects have been transferred to the Anti-Cultism unit and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation.

The Command warns all criminal elements to either repent or leave Edo State, as the Command remains fully prepared to deal decisively with anyone threatening the peace and security of residents.

Metro

My Husband Beat Me, Abused Me Verbally — Wife

Published

4 days ago

May 9, 2026

Editor

…I never did such things — Husband

A businesswoman, Patricia Philip, has prayed a Customary Court in Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to dissolve the marriage between her and her husband, Ossai Philip, over alleged molestation.

The petitioner said this in a divorce petition she filed against her husband in court.

“My husband is constantly fighting and molesting me without justification. He beats me often and also uses abusive words on me.

“He reacts aggressively to literally every little provocation,” she said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), The petitioner said that all the ill treatment had caused her emotional distress and that she feared for her safety.

She told the court that she could no longer cope with her husband’s alleged violent behaviour, which she said, had destroyed her trust and confidence in him.

She also told the court that she feared that continued cohabitation with the respondent may endanger her life and well being.

The respondent, Philip, who is a businessman, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Festus Enomhonse, however, adjourned the case.