**Ozekhome and Useni's London Property Scandal Deepens** A dramatic twist has emerged in the high-profile trial of renowned lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN, and Ponfa Useni, over alleged forgery and fraud in laying claim to a property in London. The latest development comes as Mr Aridegbe Akim, a principal staff to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), took the stand as the first prosecution witness in the Abuja high court. Akim testified that a passport bearing the name "Tali Shani" presented by Ozekhome and Useni as part of their documents was not issued by the NIS. This revelation further solidifies the prosecution's case against the duo, who are facing a 12-count charge of forgery. For those who may not be aware, Nigeria's immigration services have been working to curb the menace of passport forgery, with the introduction of the Rapid Identity and Passport Application System (RIPAS) aimed at preventing such cases. It's worth noting that passport forgery is a serious offense in Nigeria, with severe consequences for those found guilty. The trial, which started on Friday, saw the prosecution tender several documents, including EFCC letters to NIS and NIS's responses to EFCC, as well as genuine and fake passports. The defense lawyers for Ozekhome and Useni did not object to the documents but reserved their comments for the final written address. The judge, Justice Chizoba Oji, admitted the documents as Exhibits and the trial continues. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's fight against passport forgery and corruption. In a country where the value of a Nigerian passport is highly coveted, due to its ease of international travel, such cases are particularly disturbing. The NIS has a crucial role to play in ensuring that only genuine passports are issued, and it's reassuring to see the agency taking proactive steps to prevent passport forgery. As the trial unfolds, Nigerians will be watching with bated breath to see the outcome of this case and how it will impact the country's efforts to curb passport forgery and corruption.