The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a fresh 12-count charge against Chief Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni, also known as Tali Shani, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over alleged conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and unlawful control of a property in the United Kingdom.

In the charge instituted by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Federal Government on Tuesday, the prosecution accused the defendants of forging a Nigerian International Passport and other documents to support a claim to a property located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2.

The late former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni, was named in several counts as a co-conspirator.

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 in Abuja to procure a false Nigerian International Passport No. A07535463 in the name “Tali Shani,” purportedly issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

The prosecution alleged that they intended to use the document to support their claim to the London property.

In Counts 1 and 2, the government alleged that the defendants agreed to commit an illegal act by forging the passport and subsequently making the false document between May 30, 2020 and 2021, contrary to Sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 364.

Count 3 accused them of conspiring in 2022 to use the alleged forged passport as genuine to facilitate their claim to the property, while Count 4 alleged that they dishonestly used the passport as genuine between 2023 and 2025.

Counts 5 and 7 specifically accused Useni of false personation and cheating by personation.

The prosecution alleged that on or about May 30, 2020, Useni falsely presented himself as “Tali Shani,” described as a fictitious person, and executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in that name in connection with the property claim.

In Counts 6 and 8, Ozekhome was accused of abetting the offences of impersonation and cheating by personation by jointly executing the irrevocable Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2020, with the alleged fictitious person to facilitate the property claim.

Count 9 alleged that Ozekhome, sometime in 2022 in Abuja, had under his control the property at No. 79 Randall Avenue, London, which investigators reasonably suspected was unlawfully obtained by the late General Useni using the fictitious name.

Count 10 further alleged that Ozekhome had under his control £18,000, said to be part of rent accrued from the London property, which investigators reasonably suspected was unlawfully obtained.

In Counts 11 and 12, the prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2023 to forge a document titled “Re: Request for Authentication of Nigerian Passport No. A07535463 Belonging to Mr Tali Shani,” dated May 4, 2023, and falsely presented it as having been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service to support their claim.

The offences were said to contravene various provisions of the Penal Code Law 2009, including Sections 83, 84, 96, 179, 319A, 321, 322, 363, 364 and 366.

The charge was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo and the Chief State Counsel, A.R. Tahir, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

In an affidavit of completion of investigation deposed to by a litigation officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the prosecution stated that the investigation into the matter had substantially concluded and that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.

Ozekhome and the second defendant, Ponfa Useni, are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The FCT High Court is expected to fix a date for their arraignment.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Office of the AGF had withdrawn the three charges filed against Ozekhome.

Oyedepo had informed Justice Peter Kekemeke that the AGF had decided to take a holistic review of the case to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Following the application, which was not opposed by Ozekhome’s defence team led by Paul Erokoro, the court struck out the three charges.

On January 29, 2026, Oyedepo notified the court of the AGF’s decision to take over the prosecution from the ICPC, pursuant to Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the AGF to institute, take over, or discontinue criminal proceedings.

“The Attorney General was guided by public interest considerations and the need to instil confidence, fairness, and competence in the criminal justice system,” Oyedepo stated.

He added that inter-agency cooperation in combating corruption was also a factor in the takeover.

The DPPF assured the court that the rights of the defendant would be protected and that no party would suffer injustice during the review.

Justice Kekemeke granted the application and struck out the charge.

The Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners of Finance, Akintunde Oyebode, has said President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order 9 on direct remittance of oil and gas revenues would add only about N1.5tn to the Federation Account, arguing that the bigger issue is enforcing constitutional custody of federation revenues and fixing leakages created by the Petroleum Industry Act framework.

Oyebode, who spoke on Arise News on Tuesday, is also the Commissioner for Finance for the Ekiti State Government.

He said, “In monetary terms, this is not even a significant increase to the federation account. In total, from the management fee, frontier exploration fee and the gas flaring penalties, we estimate approximately N1.5tn will be added to the federation account.”

He added that even that figure must be seen against the scale of inflows into the Federation Account, saying, “If you assume that’s an account that gets upwards of N30tn per annum, you can do the math. It’s a single-digit impact in terms of growth on the federation account. But that’s not the point.”

Tinubu’s Executive Order 9, signed in February 2026, mandates that oil and gas revenues due to the Federation be remitted directly into the Federation Account, limiting deductions and retentions by agencies and directing that key statutory inflows be paid in full before any spending or appropriation.

The order has triggered pushback from labour unions and wider debate across the petroleum sector, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria warning that the directive could harm the industry and send negative signals to investors, while urging the President to withdraw it.

On the Arise programme, one of the presenters suggested states would “get more money” from the new remittance structure, but Oyebode rejected that framing and insisted it was about constitutional compliance rather than a windfall.

“It’s not about states getting more revenue. It’s about adherence to the Constitution. It’s about doing what is proper,” he said, adding that public debate should focus on “safeguarding federation revenues”.

He argued that the most consequential leakages may sit outside the specific items targeted by EO9, pointing to what he described as a sharp fall in joint venture inflows after the Petroleum Industry Act.

“If you look at the impact of PIA on JVs, pre-PIA, JVs contributed circa $12bn to the federation. Post-PIA, that number has come down to about $2bn,” he said. “That’s an area that no one is even talking about, the transfer of the JV assets without proper valuation, without proper governance.”

Oyebode also tried to downplay fears that the executive order could destabilise NNPC Limited’s operations, arguing that the sums involved were small relative to the company’s reported scale.

“NNPC, if we go by its audited financial statements, made a profit of N4.5tn in 2024,” he said, adding that in a company with revenues he put at about N45tn, “what we’re talking about here is a small amount”.

The Presidency has defended EO9 as a constitutional enforcement action rather than executive lawmaking.

Pressed on whether the directive amounts to executive overreach and whether it could rattle lenders and investors, Oyebode said he was not a lawyer and would not give a legal opinion, but argued that any disputes should be tested in court.

“At the heart of the matter, if there are any legal concerns, the best thing to do is for the relevant parties to approach the courts for an interpretation,” he said.

He added that investor concerns would depend on implementation details, noting the government had set up an implementation committee and urging stakeholders to wait for its guidelines.

“If there are valid agreements, contracts in place, it will not affect the repayment of those contracts,” he said, adding, “We should wait for their guidelines before coming to a conclusion.”

Oyebode also insisted the oil and gas investment climate had improved, claiming the sector had recorded “$10bn of new investments” and citing major projects and final investment decisions as signs of momentum.

Beyond EO9, the Arise interview also shifted to the recurring criticism of state finances, debt and spending patterns.

Oyebode rejected the claim that states were being “given” money by the Federal Government, saying revenues in the Federation Account belonged to the federation and must be shared under the constitutionally prescribed distributable pool.

He also claimed that states’ domestic debt levels had improved, saying, “Over the last two years… many states have seen at least 15 per cent to 20 per cent reduction in domestic debt,” while explaining that increases in the naira value of foreign debt were largely exchange-rate driven.

On concerns that states borrow for recurrent spending, he said, “Before you take a loan, there’s a borrowing plan… I struggle to see any state that’s really borrowing to fund its recurrent expenditure,” adding that multilateral loans typically fund water, agriculture, environmental programmes and other public infrastructure.

In the same exchange, Oyebode pointed to transparency reforms linked to the World Bank-supported State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme, saying states were publishing budgets, procurement records, quarterly budget implementation reports and audited financial statements, and urging analysts and civil society to scrutinise and hold governments accountable.

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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday resigned from office, paving the way for the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, as the new police boss ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Disu, who was promoted to the rank of AIG in March 2025, is expected to take over from Egbetokun who was appointed by the President on June 19, 2023.

The IG’s continued stay in office sparked widespread controversy in 2024 after Egbetokun officially reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4.

However, his stay in office was extended following the amendment to the Police Act.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga confirmed that Egbetokun resigned his appointment, citing family issues that require his undivided attention.

He disclosed that the former IG submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday.

“The IG resigned in a letter today, citing family issues which require his undivided attention,” he said.

However, multiple Presidency sources said Egbetokun was asked to step down during a meeting with President  Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday evening.

“It was in that meeting he was asked to go,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The IG’s official vehicle was sighted at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 6:40 pm on Monday.

He later returned to the State House at about 8:00 pm, where his vehicle was searched by operatives of the Department of State Services.

Tinubu accepts resignation

Tinubu accepted Egbetokun’s resignation and appointed AIG Disu as acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A State House statement  on Tuesday by Onanuga said Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter citing pressing family considerations.

“Citing the current security challenges confronting the country, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, the President approved the appointment of Disu in an acting capacity.

“The President is confident that AIG Disu’s experience, operational depth, and demonstrated leadership capacity will provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period,” the statement read.

He added that in compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, the President would convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to formally consider Disu’s appointment as  substantive IG after which his name would be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.

“In compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.

“The President reiterates his administration’s unwavering commitment to enhancing national security, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains professional, accountable, and fully equipped to discharge its constitutional responsibilities”, he said.

Before his latest appointment, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, a position he assumed in February 2026.

Prior to that, he headed the Special Protection Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, from March 2025 to February 2026.

He also served as Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Police Command from October 2024 to March 2025, and at the Rivers State Police Command from November 2023 to October 2024.

Earlier, he led the Intelligence Response Team as Deputy Commissioner of Police, and also served as DCP, Admin Operations, at Force Headquarters.

Between 2015 and 2021, Disu was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos

Losers and winners

Meanwhile, the appointment of Disu may trigger the resignation of some senior officers in line with established police tradition.

A source within the Police Service Commission said the new development could lead to the exit of between 15 and 20 senior officers who are Disu’s seniors.

“Going by recent practice, Disu’s seniors might have to submit their resignation letters. We might have those who may wish to stay behind and salute their juniors. The fact is that among the DIGs, we have people whose colleagues are still ACPs. Somebody like DIG Frank Mba, though those he joined the force with  as cadets are still DCPs and the likes.

“Apart from the nine DIGs, the AIGs who are senior to him are not many. Between 15 and 20 may resign,” the source noted.

Police insiders noted that while resignation of senior officers is entrenched in police culture, similar to the military, there have been instances where affected officers chose to remain in service despite the appointment of their juniors.

““Resignation of senior officers is not as entrenched in the police culture like in the military. It has happened in the past that some seniors did not resign, and it has also happened that they resigned.

“The DIGs who are senior to the acting IG head key departments such as Finance and Administration, DIG Yahaya Abubakar; Operations, Bzigu Kwazhi; Logistics and Supply, Adebola Hamzat; Force Criminal Investigation Department, Sadiq Abubakar; Training and Development, Frank Mba; Research and Planning, Basil Idegwu; Information and Communication Technology,  and the Force Intelligence Bureau, Mohammed Gumel,” a police source told our correspondent.

Also, some Commissioners of Police and other officers would benefit from the vacuum that would be created by the likely retirement of the DIGs and affected AIGs.

According to sources,  some of them would be promoted to fill up available positions,  while others would be elevated to vacant ranks.

“Should those DIG and AIGs who are senior to resign, there would be space for AIGs who are his juniors and CPs to move up. Also, DCPs and others would also benefit from that process, “ a source told one of our correspondents

Ex-police chiefs react

Retired police officers expressed support for the new police chief, while calling for adherence to Force tradition.

Ali Amodu, a retired AIG, said the development was consistent with police tradition, stressing that the DIGs would likely resign alongside Egbetokun.

“He (Disu) is a junior to the DIGs. By Force tradition, they are not supposed to be there. The DIGs cannot be there. Don’t you see what is happening in the military? Don’t you see the military tradition? If Disu is confirmed, the DIGs are supposed to go,” he said.

He added, “It’s just the AIGs who would remain although this is at the discretion of the President and the police service commission. They are of the same rank, even if there are some of them that are senior to him as AIG. But that is even permissible, but the DIGs will have to go, That’s the way I see it.”

Amodu said the practice was rooted in discipline within the Force. “It has been like that because of the norms of discipline in the force,” he said.

On the security challenges confronting the country, he said, “If he’s to come in, we pray for him. There are a lot of challenges. There are a lot of challenges in the area of security.”

Speaking on ways to tackle the challenge, he reiterated his long-standing support for decentralisation of the police, saying, “Let the force be decentralised. The federal police and others, this thing can be there. And the issue of law enforcement, basically, what is happening all over the world now, including Britain, is a decentralised force. It’s better managed if it is decentralised.”

Wilson Inalegwu, another retired AIG, described the change in leadership as a normal development aimed at injecting fresh ideas into the system.

“The security situation that is besetting the country is very serious, and I think the government should look at the situation at hand and say, look, let us eject, let us add impetus to the effort we are making, and then in that way, you can bring fresh ideas,” he said.

He noted that Egbetokun has done his best. “Egbetokun has completed his service, and he has done the best he can do. So, it’s good that the president has got a fresh hand, and I think it’s not a bad thing because it happens all the time.”

Drawing an analogy with sports, he said, “Even the football match that we watch, there are times the coach will look at the way the team is going and decide, look, let me bring fresh legs. So, I think that is what has happened.”

On the fate of senior officers, Inalegwu said, “I think most of them will take their leave because that has been the practice, because of the nature of the job. There is a level of regimentation, even though it’s a civilian police force.”

He added that it would be “healthier for the work environment that they take their leave and then allow the new IG to constitute his management team.”

Similarly, ex-DIG Adedayo Adeoye said, “Normally, the DIGs are supposed to leave. Even any AIG that is senior to him, unless the new IG wants to retain any of them. The discretion is now with him, the new IG.”

He congratulated Disu, saying, “I congratulate the new IG and I wish him the best of luck because we have a lot of challenges in the country now, security-wise.”

For his part, retired AIG Lawrence Alobi said discipline and administrative order demanded a change in the top hierarchy.

“That would depend on the new IG and also for the purpose of discipline, you know, it’s not very good for them to stay. They should also leave with honour and so that the IG now brings new officers to come on board as management team with him,” he said.

He stressed that the DIGs are supposed to constitute the management team of the force.

“He cannot be sitting with those who were senior to him as his main team. No, that would not be too good in terms of administration, in terms of discipline,” he pointed out.

Alobi expressed confidence in the acting IG, describing him as “a seasoned police officer who has gone through the ranks and a man of capacity, a man of robust intellectual capacity and operational capacity”

 “And I’m sure he will not let Mr. President down. He will not let the country down,” he said.