Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - The Department of State Services, DSS, on Monday arraigned four suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of its officer, Ekpeyong Asuquo Owoh.
The accused persons were arraigned on a six-count charge
bordering on terrorism and abduction of a DSS officer before the Federal High
Court sitting in Abuja.
The defendants are Michael Okafor, aka Onyechimeleze;
Chinedu Joseph Chukwudozie, alias Kante; Chibunna Olisa; and Chigozie Olisa,
aka Ability.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to
commit acts of terrorism and were involved in the abduction of Owoh, a DSS
operative, while he was travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Awka,
Anambra State.
They were further accused of taking the operative hostage
and causing his death in the course of the alleged criminal operation.
The defendants were also accused of belonging to the
proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security
Network, ESN, as well as involvement in activities allegedly connected to
terrorism.
In addition, the prosecution alleged that the suspects were
involved in unlawful possession of firearms, including AK-47 and pump-action
rifles, in connection with the alleged offences.
The charges followed investigations into the circumstances
surrounding the abduction and killing of the DSS operative and the alleged
activities of the defendants.
However, when the charges were read to them on Monday, the
suspects pleaded not guilty, prompting the DSS lawyer, Munirat Oladunjoye, to
ask for date to commence their trial.
The lawyer told the court that she has three witnesses that
will give evidence during trial.
While granting October 6 as the trial date, Justice Joyce
Abdulmalik ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in the custody of
the DSS.
At Monday’s arraignment, Mr Kelvin Ekwe stood as lawyer for
the defendants.
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