Nigeria: Lawyer Mike Ozekhome's defense challenges forensic expert in passport forgery trial

The defense team for prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome rigorously cross-examined a forensic expert from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, challenging the prosecution's evidence in a forgery and impersonation case. Mr. Ozekhome and his co-defendant, Ponfa Useni, are accused of forging a Nigerian passport under the name Tali Shani. This passport was allegedly presented to a London tribunal in an unsuccessful attempt to claim a London property. The forensic expert, Bamaiyi Mairiga, testified as the second prosecution witness, detailing his examination of the passport. Defense lawyer Tayo Oyetibo questioned Mr. Mairiga about his findings, noting that another forensic expert had described his report as a "product of speculation." Mr. Mairiga, an official in the EFCC's Department of Forensic Examination, denied these claims, asserting that his report adhered to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for passport issuance and authentication. Mr. Mairiga explained that the ICAO sets standards for check-digits to ensure accuracy and integrity in international passports, applicable to all member countries, including Nigeria. He stated that if a passport's data page fails these checks, it is unfit for issuance. The charges, preferred by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, allege that Mr. Ozekhome and Mr. Useni conspired in 2020 with the late Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to create a false Nigerian passport to claim a UK property under the fictitious name Tali Shani. The prosecution also charged them with using a false passport.

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No. My report followed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard for passport issuance among several standards. ICAO has set one of its standards for the authentication of check-digits to ensure accuracy and integrity in international passports, and this standard applies to all ICAO-issued member countries, including Nigeria.