Witness says forensic examination found inconsistencies in Nigerian e-passport allegedly used in UK property claim as court adjourns for medical travel application and further cross-examination
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — June 29, 2026
The trial involving senior lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ponfa Useni over alleged forgery, impersonation and the use of a disputed Nigerian international passport took a significant turn on Monday as an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forensic expert told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama that the passport at the centre of the case failed internationally recognised authentication standards.
The prosecution’s second witness, Bamaiyi Mairiga, informed the court that forensic analysis conducted by the EFCC established that the passport did not satisfy the standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international travel documents.
The case is one of several high-profile criminal proceedings involving allegations of document forgery linked to ownership claims over a property in the United Kingdom.
Witness Explains Forensic Examination
Led in evidence during cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Chief Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Mairiga explained that the EFCC’s Department of Forensic Examination subjected the disputed Nigerian international e-passport bearing the name Tali Shani and passport number A07535463 to internationally recognised forensic verification procedures.
According to the witness, investigators employed three independent verification technologies, namely:
- Keesing Technologies Document Checker (KTDC);
- VSC 8000 ICAO Optical Character Recognition (OCR) E-Passport Checker; and
- Manual ICAO publication-based calculations.
He told the court that the objective of the examination was to determine whether information contained in the passport’s Visual Inspection Zone corresponded accurately with its Machine Readable Zone.
Passport Failed Check Digit Verification
Mairiga explained that one of the critical aspects of the forensic examination involved verifying the passport’s “check digits”—security features embedded within ICAO-compliant passports to validate information such as:
- Passport number;
- Date of Birth (DOB); and
- Date of Expiry (DOE).
According to him, the forensic analysis established that the passport failed the required authentication tests.
“The forensic department placed the passport under these analyses, and it clearly showed that the check digit failed the standard. This passport bearing Shani Tali did not meet the standard,” the witness testified.
He maintained that the findings were independently confirmed through both manual calculations and electronic verification using specialised forensic equipment.
No Ink Analysis Conducted
During cross-examination, Oyetibo asked whether the forensic laboratory had carried out ink analysis on the disputed passport.
The witness responded in the negative.
According to him, the assignment received by the forensic department was limited to determining whether the information contained in the Machine Readable Zone corresponded with that in the Visual Inspection Zone.
“The request was clear—to compare the contents of the machine-readable zone and the visual inspection zone to determine whether they matched,” Mairiga stated.
Defence Questions Investigation
The defence further challenged the reliability of the forensic investigation, suggesting that the examination was incomplete.
However, Mairiga defended the methodology adopted by the EFCC laboratory.
He explained that the investigation strictly complied with internationally recognised ICAO procedures governing passport authentication.
According to him, the calculations were validated using the VSC 8000 Optical Character Recognition system manufactured by Foster and Freeman, a globally recognised forensic technology company specialising in questioned document examination, latent fingerprint analysis and trace evidence.
Passport Issued in Abeokuta
Responding to another question from the defence regarding the passport’s place of issuance, which indicated Abeokuta, Mairiga said the Nigeria Immigration Service maintains passport offices across state capitals, including Ogun State.
He added, however, that determining where the passport was issued did not form part of the forensic assignment before him.
Despite extensive questioning, the witness maintained that the disputed passport failed the ICAO authentication standard.
Background to the Charges
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) arraigned Ozekhome and Useni on February 27 on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and use of false documents.
Ponfa Useni is the son of the late Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2020 to produce a false Nigerian international passport in the name of Tali Shani, purportedly issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The prosecution further alleges that the disputed passport was used in connection with efforts to assert ownership of a property located in the United Kingdom.
Additional allegations include impersonation and the creation of an allegedly forged Irrevocable Power of Attorney intended to facilitate the property claim.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Court Hears Medical Travel Application
Following the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, counsel to the first defendant informed the court that an application had been filed seeking the temporary release of Chief Ozekhome’s international travel documents to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Counsel to the prosecution, Aisha Tahir, informed the court that the application was not opposed.
Justice Chizoba Oji subsequently adjourned the matter until Tuesday for hearing of the travel application and fixed September 28, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
The prosecution’s forensic evidence has introduced a critical technical dimension to the ongoing trial by focusing on whether the disputed passport complied with internationally accepted ICAO standards.
However, the court has yet to determine the weight to be attached to the forensic findings, as cross-examination continues and the defence prepares to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.
The defendants remain presumed innocent unless and until the charges against them are proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution
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