Court Approves Mike Ozekhome’s Six-Week UK Medical Trip, Adjourns Trial
Fresh developments have emerged in the ongoing forgery case involving senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome after an Abuja High Court granted him permission to travel to the United Kingdom for a six-week medical trip.
The court also postponed further hearing in the high-profile forgery and impersonation trial until September, temporarily allowing the Senior Advocate of Nigeria to leave the country for medical treatment.
Justice Chizoba Oji of the High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, approved the request after the prosecution confirmed it had no objection to Ozekhome’s application for temporary release of his international passport.
According to the court ruling, the approved medical trip will begin on July 9 and run until August 20, while the defendant has been ordered to return his passport to the court on or before August 26.
Ozekhome is currently standing trial alongside Ponfa Useni over a 12-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation bordering on alleged forgery and impersonation.
The charges are connected to a disputed property ownership case involving a North London property allegedly linked to the late former FCT Minister, Jeremiah Useni.
Court proceedings earlier revealed concerns after the prosecution failed to deposit the defendants’ passports with the court registry despite the condition attached to bail granted in February.
Following the court’s directive, the prosecution later produced the passports before Thursday’s hearing where the judge considered Ozekhome’s medical travel request.
After confirming ownership of the passport, prosecutors informed the court that they had no objection but requested that the senior lawyer return the document within three working days after returning to Nigeria.
Justice Oji subsequently adjourned the substantive trial until September 28, 2026, when proceedings are expected to resume as the forgery case continues.