The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Friday granted bail in the sum of N10m each to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, following their arraignment on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged forgery.
The charge was instituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation over claims that the defendants forged documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, purportedly used to assert ownership of a London property said to have been unlawfully acquired by the late Jeremiah Useni.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications argued by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and F. R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni.
In a short ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10m each with one surety apiece. The sureties, the court held, must be property owners within the FCT.
The judge further directed the defendants to surrender their international passports to the court.
Justice Oji added that as the proceedings took place on a Friday, the defendants could return home if they were unable to meet the bail conditions immediately.
However, she ordered them to perfect the conditions by Monday, warning that failure to do so would result in their remand in custody.
Details later.