CALGARY, Alberta – A Canadian law professor has formally petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate two prominent Nigerian lawyers, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Mohammed Edewor, for alleged professional misconduct following a damning UK court ruling that detailed a property fraud scheme involving a “fictitious person.”
Dr. Gideon Christian, an Associate Professor of AI and Law at the University of Calgary, submitted a petition on Oct. 1, 2025, urging the NBA’s prosecution team to refer the matter to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). The petition stems from a Sept. 11, 2025, decision by the UK’s First-tier Tribunal which described a property dispute as being “of a quite extraordinary nature,” centered on “fraud by impersonation,” and “riddled with ‘abuse of process’.”
“The integrity of our profession is on the line,” Dr. Christian wrote in a social media public post. “If we remain silent in the face of increasing professional misconduct by senior members of the Nigerian Bar… we risk losing the very moral foundation that gives legitimacy to being a lawyer.”
The case revolves around the ownership of a London property at 79 Randall Avenue, which was illicitly acquired in 1993 by the late General Jeremiah Useni, a powerful minister during the military regime of Sani Abacha. The tribunal found that the property was registered under the name “Tali Shani,” a fake identity Useni used to conceal his ownership.
The dispute arose after Chief Ozekhome attempted to register a transfer of the property to himself in 2021, claiming it was a gift from a man he presented as “Mr. Tali Shani.”
However, in what the tribunal called “surprising” oral evidence before his death, General Useni himself testified that he had purchased the property with his own money. When asked what the man presented by Ozekhome as “Mr. Tali Shani” had to do with the property, General Useni replied, “Nothing.”
The tribunal found that “Tali Shani” was a “fictitious name” used by General Useni to “disguise his ownership of 79 Randall Avenue when it was acquired in 1993.” This finding was supported by a 2022 ruling from the Royal Court of Jersey, which ordered Useni to forfeit £1.9 million in illicit funds held in accounts under the similar false name “Tim Shani.”
Dr. Christian’s petition outlines several breaches of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) against the two lawyers.
Allegations Against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN
The petition accuses Chief Ozekhome of multiple ethical violations, including:
Presenting a Fake Witness: By presenting a man as “Mr. Tali Shani,” who the tribunal found to be an impersonator, Ozekhome is accused of producing evidence he “knows the court should reject,” a direct violation of Rule 32(3)(j) of the RPC.
Deceiving the Tribunal: The petition alleges that Ozekhome advanced a case based on a “fraudulent transfer of property” from a “non-existent client.” The tribunal noted “serious concerns” with Ozekhome’s explanations, especially after he claimed the £500,000 property was transferred to him for “no consideration,” despite other evidence mentioning a N100 million payment.
Failure of Due Diligence: The petition argues that a “reasonable lawyer” would have conducted enhanced due diligence, given that General Useni was a well-known Politically Exposed Person (PEP).
Allegations Against Mohammed Edewor
Mr. Edewor and his law firm are accused of facilitating the fraud by procuring and advancing a fictitious claim. The petition alleges:
Facilitating Deception: Edewor’s firm is accused of engaging in “the deliberate orchestration of an impersonation designed to deceive both foreign counsel and the Tribunal.” The petition states, “the unavoidable inference is that Edewor & Co. presented an impersonator to Mr. Efemuai in order to sustain the fiction of a non-existent client.”
Using Forged Documents: The effort to legitimize “Ms. Tali Shani” involved multiple forged documents, including a National Identification Number generated from Monaco using an “amputee” loophole, a falsified affidavit, and a fraudulent court order.
Dr. Christian’s petition concludes by requesting that the NBA launch a formal investigation into both lawyers and commence professional misconduct proceedings before the LPDC, calling their alleged actions an “egregious abuse of professional privilege that has gravely tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian Bar.”
