Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Tuesday, withdrew the charge filed by the Federal Government against constitutional lawyer, Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN.
The senior advocate was dragged before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a three-count charge bordering on property forgery.
At the last sitting in the case, the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, informed the court that the AGF was taking over the case from ICPC and asked for an adjournment to enable the AGF to study the case file.
However, at the resumption of proceedings in the case, Oyedepo informed the court that he was instructed by the AGF to withdraw the instant charge against the defendant pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
According to the DPPF, the withdrawal was to enable the AGF to strengthen his review of all the cases before all the agencies.
The lead counsel for Ozekhome, Paul Erokoro SAN, who led about 17 SANs and other retinue of lawyers, had no objection to the application for withdrawal of the charge.
Based on this development, the court subsequently struck out the instant charge.