Sani Abachi's Top Ally Caught in Web of Forgery, Fake Deaths and False Names in UK Property Case
- A UK tribunal dismissed rival claims over a London property, ruling that late General Jeremiah Useni, not the disputed “Tali Shani,” was the true owner
- The court exposed forged documents, fake identities and fabricated deaths, rejecting claims from both Mike Ozekhome and “Ms Tali Shani"
- Useni admitted in testimony before his death that he bought the house under a false name in 1993; ownership now rests with his estate
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
A UK property tribunal has dismissed rival claims to a London house in a sensational case that exposed a tangled web of forged documents, fake identities and fabricated deaths.
The case, heard at the first-tier tribunal (Property Chamber) and presided over by Judge Ewan Paton, concerned 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.
Source: UGC
The applicant, known as “Ms Tali Shani,” had filed a claim against Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria, but the tribunal ruled that neither party could establish ownership.
Instead, the court concluded that the true owner was Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general and key ally of the late Sani Abacha, who died in France in January 2025.
“The real owner, via a false name, was General Jeremiah Useni,” Judge Paton declared.
Extraordinary case begins at land registry
The dispute began in February 2023, when Ozekhome sought to register a transfer of the property executed in his favour in 2021 by “Mr Tali Shani.”
He described the transfer as a “gift” made out of gratitude for extensive legal services.
The matter escalated when lawyers representing “Ms Tali Shani” objected, claiming she was the rightful owner. Soon after, the tribunal was faced with competing claims from two individuals, one male, one female, both using the name Tali Shani, The Cable reported.
What followed, Judge Paton noted, was “a quite extraordinary series of hearings filled with mutual accusations of forgery, conspiracy, corruption, and impersonation.”
Fake deaths, forged certificates and false relatives
Central to the case was the identity of “Ms Tali Shani,” who never appeared in court.
In 2024, her lawyers claimed she had died in Nigeria, producing medical reports, a national identity slip, a phone bill, a death certificate and even an obituary.
A supposed cousin, Anukwe Marcel Obasi, testified that “my late cousin and the late General Useni had a very long affair.”
He alleged she had provided funds to Useni to buy the property in the 1990s.
But Obasi admitted he had no photographs with his alleged cousin or Useni, and claimed the official photographer at her supposed funeral had been “killed by bandits” two days later.
Her purported son, Ayodele Damola, gave contradictory evidence, alternately claiming she died in a road accident and that she was terminally ill.
Dates on her death certificate and obituary notice did not match, leading the tribunal to dismiss the documents as forgeries.
Judge Paton concluded:
“I do not accept that ‘she’ was ever a real living person… Nor do I accept that Mr Ayodele Damola is ‘her’ son, or that Mr Obasi is ‘her’ cousin.”
Fake NIN and fabricated addresses
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) confirmed that the Nigerian ID slip presented for “Tali Shani” was fraudulent, obtained irregularly in Monaco with no fingerprints captured.
Police investigators also found that the mobile phone bill in her name was actually registered to a Lagos solicitor connected to her legal team, while the address on her documents did not exist.
Ozekhome’s defence collapses
Source: UGC
Ozekhome, representing himself, claimed the property was gifted to him by “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021 for his legal services.
He said he had no knowledge of the original 1993 purchase and relied on his long-standing friendship with General Useni, Vanguard reported.
He described Shani as “a wealthy farmer and big property guy” but admitted he had only met him in 2019.
Pressed for documentary proof of his legal work for Shani, he declined, citing client confidentiality.
The tribunal rejected Ozekhome’s account, finding it “contrived” and “fabricated.”
Useni admits to using false name
In video testimony before his death, Useni admitted:
“I owned it… I bought the property… I paid the deposit… bit by bit… it is my property.”
The tribunal concluded that Useni purchased the house in 1993 under the alias “Philips Bincan,” and later registered it in the false name “Tali Shani.”
The judgment stated that Ozekhome’s application to be registered as proprietor must be cancelled, since Shani never had legal title.
Final outcome leaves ownership with Useni’s estate
With Useni now deceased, ownership of the London property rests with whoever obtains probate of his English assets.
Judge Paton summed up:
“The final outcome of this case, therefore, is that both parties have failed. Neither ‘Tali Shani’ was who they said they were. The real owner was General Jeremiah Useni.”
Employment scam: Fake Army Colonel arrested in Ondo
Previously, Legit.ng reported the Ondo state police command has arrested Abdullahi Saliu for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian army colonel.
The 'fake army officer' also defrauded victims of N1.377 million in a fake employment scam.
Source: Legit.ng
