The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Friday granted bail for ₦10 million each to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, following their arraignment on a 12-count criminal charge.

The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, relate to alleged forgery of documents, including an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney. The documents were allegedly used to lay claim to a property in London said to have been unlawfully acquired by the late Jeremiah Useni.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications moved by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) for Ozekhome and F. R. Onoja (SAN) for Useni.

In a brief ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of ₦10 million each, with one surety per defendant. The sureties, she ruled, must own verifiable property within the Federal Capital Territory.

The court also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the registry.

Justice Oji further directed that since proceedings were conducted on a Friday, the defendants may return home if unable to perfect their bail conditions immediately, but must report back to court on Monday to do so. Failure to meet the bail conditions by then, she warned, would result in their remand in prison custody.