The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a 14-day freeze on a London property tied to the late Jeremiah Useni, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s military regime who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to a PREMIUM TIMES report.
Justice Binta Nyako granted the interim order on Friday following an ex-parte application by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The bureau, tasked with enforcing Nigeria’s Code of Conduct for Public Officers, alleges that the property at 79 Randall Avenue, London, was acquired illegitimately during Useni’s tenure.
A lawyer present at the proceedings said the court directed the CCB to publicize the freeze order in a national newspaper within the 14-day window, allowing any interested parties to come forward and prove legitimate ownership; failure to do so could result in a final forfeiture order in favor of the Nigerian government, followed by enforcement proceedings in UK courts.
The CCB’s action follows a September 11, 2025, ruling by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in London, which exposed the property’s murky origins. Tribunal Judge Ewan Paton determined that Useni, who passed away in France in January 2025, purchased the £1.2 million home in 1993 under the alias “Philips Bincan” a deliberate falsehood to conceal ownership while he held public office.
The London saga has escalated into a high-profile dispute in recent years, drawing in Nigeria’s legal elite. In 2021, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome filed to transfer the property’s title to himself, claiming it was a gift from a supposed Nigerian businessman named Tali Shani in gratitude for legal services.
Ozekhome’s narrative unraveled amid counterclaims from a mysterious “Ms. Tali Shani,” represented by UK firm Westfields Solicitors, who alleged forgery and imposture. Investigations revealed that both parties submitted fabricated documents, including passports, utility bills, and a Nigerian National Identification Number.
The “Tali Shani” figure—initially presented as a male tycoon who bought the property at age 20 with cattle business proceeds—later morphed into a female claimant citing illness and a death in October 2024, backed by a dubious Nigerian death certificate. Neither party appeared in person, leading Judge Paton to dismiss their claims entirely.
In a pivotal 2024 video testimony before his death, Useni admitted ownership: “I owned it. I bought the property. It is my property.” He confessed to using the alias but denied any connection to the “Shanis.” Tribunal records aligned with this, linking the purchase to Useni’s pattern of using pseudonyms like “Tim Shani” for offshore accounts a tactic previously flagged by Jersey’s Royal Court in 2022.
The judge ruled the property’s title transfer to Ozekhome invalid and directed the UK Land Registry to cancel it. With Useni deceased, ownership now hinges on probate of his English estate, though the Nigerian government views the alias as a clear violation warranting forfeiture.
The tribunal’s verdict sparked outrage in Nigeria, tarnishing the reputation of involved legal practitioners. On September 30, 2025, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi announced a federal probe during the Supreme Court’s 2025/2026 legal year opening ceremony, attended by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
“It bears sadly on the high esteem and integrity that our noble profession commands,” Fagbemi stated, vowing to verify complaints and refer erring lawyers including Ozekhome to disciplinary bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association and the Body of Senior Advocates.
Useni, a key ally of the late dictator Sani Abacha and a 1998 successor contender, symbolized the era’s corruption.
