In a tale more bizarre than fiction, a British Judge has ruled on a property dispute in north London involving a dead Nigerian general, a woman that dies during the court case, who then turns out to have never existed, and two sets of people alleging fraud and identity theft against each other, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria or SAN.
The case stemmed from when Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (referred to as the Respondent in the case), applied to register a transfer of ownership of a property to himself, which was however objected to by one “ms Tali Shani”, who claimed to be the owner (the Applicant).
The property in question apparently belonged to former Nigerian FCT Minister Jeremiah Useni, a retired General who was sick in France at the time of the Court case.
In Court documents seen by MoneyCentral, the matter referred before a Judge Ewan Paton by the U.K Land Registry, on 27th February 2023, was an application by the Respondent (Ozekhome) to register a transfer dated 17th August 2021 of the property – a house in Neasden, north London – executed in his favour by one “Tali Shani”.
That apparently routine application however, generated mutual allegations of identity fraud by impersonation.
These in turn generated multiple allegations of forgery of documents, fraud, conspiracy and corruption of public officials.
A key figure in both parties’ cases, as they eventually emerged, was a very prominent and now deceased former Nigerian general and politician, General Jeremiah Useni.
General Useni (who died on 23rd January 2025) however gave oral evidence before the Judge in the case by video link (Zoom) , as a witness tendered by the Respondent, on 11th June 2024.
This matter was referred to the Judge on the basis of an objection to registration of the above transfer, originally lodged at HM Land Registry on 26th September 2022 by Westfields Solicitors on behalf of a “Ms. Tali Shani”.
The objection was made on the basis that she was the registered proprietor of the property. It was said that she knew nothing of this transfer, did not execute it, and was “outraged”.
The Respondent (Ozekhome) response to this objection was that “Ms. Tali Shani” never existed.
He says that “she” is a “phantom” identity, created by a person not party to these proceedings, for the fraudulent purpose of taking control of the above property.
The alleged Applicant (Ms. Shani) never appeared before the Judge during any part of the hearing, and all her identity documents were proved fake.
She however claims the property was bought by her husband a Mr Tali Shani.
The court then finds that Mr Tali Shani could never have bought the property in 1993 for Ms Tali Shani because his claims were implausible and contradictory.
Ms Shani Dies, Enter Damola
According to the judgement, the one indisputable fact in the case was that with effect from 16th November 1993, the registered proprietor of 79 Randall Avenue, title number MX 117803, was stated to be “Tali Shani” of that address.
The case therefore depended on who procured that registration of title in 1993 in that name – who is, or was, “Tali Shani”?
During the trial however the applicant Ms. Shani then allegedly “dies” and her “son” a Mr. Damola claims ownership.
After that General Useni claims via video that he also bought the house. Mr Damola and Chief Mike then both accuse the other of fraud and identity theft.
The real owner of the London property Jeremiah Useni alias ‘Shani’
Jeremiah Useni was born in 1943 in Langtang, northern Nigeria (in what is now Plateau State). He served in the army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
After General Sani Abacha carried out a military coup d’état and became head of state of Nigeria in 1993, General Useni served as his minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. At other times he was the Minister for Transport and Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army.
However a forfeiture order under Jersey’s anti-money laundering and criminal proceeds legislation in relation to some £1.9M held by General Useni in four Jersey bank accounts, occurred sometime in 2018.
The Court found that these funds were “tainted property” as being the proceeds of “unlawful conduct” arising from his activity as a prominent public figure in Nigeria.
General Useni later admitted that the four Jersey accounts had been opened in 1986 under a false name, and the false name used was “Mr. Tim Shani”.
When General Useni was cross examined by video link by the Judge from his sick bed n France, he confirmed ownership of the disputed property, saying:
” “I owned it…..I bought the property…before I gave it to someone to run…I paid the deposit…then bit by bit … .I bought it…it is my property.”
Judge’s ruling
On the alleged Applicant, the Judge ruled that “she” was ever a real living person.
“I do not accept that “she” therefore died, whether in hospital or in a mysterious car accident on the road to Abuja. I certainly do not accept that “she” purchased this property in London in 1993 in her “hey days,” Judge Paton said in his ruling.
“Nor do I accept that Mr. Ayodele Damola is “her” son. I find that a large number of documents in this case have been produced or procured by forgery or deception, including:- – all “identity” documents put forward on behalf of the Applicant. – the Statement of Case and all witness statements said to be made by her. – a plainly fake and fraudulent witness statement, purporting to have been made by General Useni emailed by him directly to the Tribunal. – letters and other communications from alleged doctors at a hospital in Lagos where it was claimed the Applicant was being treated, and from where it was claimed she was about to give video evidence. – her alleged death certificate. – even the supposed notice of her funeral and burial rites.”
On the respondents claim, the Judge ruled that:
“It is in principle sufficient for my conclusion – which will be to direct the Chief Land Registrar to cancel the Respondent’s application to be registered as proprietor – that Mr. Tali Shani, the purported transferor, had no title to transfer to the Respondent. The issue of the alleged consideration passing between them – whether it was nil, or £500,000-worth of alleged legal services provided, or the transfer of another property – is not directly material to that conclusion.”
While the Judge ruled that it was the decision of General Useni to transfer the property to the Respondent (Ozekhome), the Judge did not accept the Respondent’s evidence as to the consideration or dealings between them, as the reason for the transfer.
“I consider that Mr. Tali Shani – whether that is the name he was born with, or whether it was changed at some point in the past – was simply a vehicle or conduit by which General Useni tried to transfer to the Respondent a property previously registered by him in the false name “Tali Shani” in 1993,” the Judge ruled.
The final ruling of the case by the Judge was that both parties failed.
“Neither “Tali Shani” was who they said they were, and neither was the person who purchased this property in 1993. The real owner, via a false name, was General Jeremiah Useni.”
CLICK to See COURT DOCUMENTS BELOW
TALI SHANI VS CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME
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