Nigeria, March 13 -- A Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer said on Friday that a passport with the name Tali Shani, which was presented in a London property ownership case involving senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, is fake.

Akim Aridegbe, a principal staff officer to the comptroller-general of the NIS, said this at the FCT High Court in Abuja, during the impersonation and forgery trial of Mr Ozekhome and his co-accused, Ponfa Useni.

Mr Aridegbe, who is the first prosecution witness, said the Nigerian passport numbered A07535463, "was not issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service; it is not in our database.the passport belonging to Tali Shani is fake."

On 27 February, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) arraig...