Court Freezes Jeremiah Useni’s Controversial London Property, Once Claimed by Ozekhome

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of a controversial London property linked to the late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the military era.

Justice Binta Nyako issued the 14-day freeze order on Friday, acting on an ex-parte application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which is investigating the circumstances surrounding ownership of the foreign asset.

The property, located in London, has long been the subject of controversy and competing claims. At one point, prominent Nigerian lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was reported to have laid claim to the asset, further fueling public debate over its true ownership and acquisition history.

In its application, the CCB argued that the temporary freezing order was necessary to prevent the property from being transferred or tampered with while investigations continue. The Bureau told the court it is probing whether the property was duly declared in line with Nigeria’s asset declaration laws for public officials.

Justice Nyako granted the request, directing that the status quo be maintained for the next two weeks pending the conclusion of preliminary inquiries.

The late Useni, who served as FCT Minister under General Sani Abacha’s regime, had faced previous scrutiny over alleged undeclared foreign assets, though the matter remained unresolved before his death in June 2024.

The current court action signals renewed efforts by anti-corruption authorities to trace and account for properties linked to former public officials, particularly those acquired abroad.

The case has been adjourned for further proceedings after the expiration of the 14-day order, during which the CCB is expected to present updates on its investigation.