ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Abuja issued a stern warning to defence counsel on Wednesday against tactics capable of stalling the trial of four suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) accused of abducting and killing an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Presiding Judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, delivered the caution on October 21, 2026, after defence lawyers Kelvin Ekwe and Geoffrey Uwadiegwu requested an adjournment, preventing the prosecution from calling its first witness.
The defendants—Michael Okafor (alias Onyechimeleze), Chinedu Chukwudozie (alias Kante), Chibunna Olisa, and Chigozie Olisa (alias Ability)—were arraigned on September 28, 2026, on a six-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The Federal Government alleges that the suspects, linked to IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), conspired to kidnap and murder DSS operative Ekpeyong Owoh while he was traveling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Awka, Anambra State.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel Munirat Oladunjoye applied under Section 232(3)(b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to protect the identity of prosecution witnesses.
Justice Abdulmalik approved the application, designating the first prosecution witness as code name “AB,” and warned that violating witness protection protocols carries a mandatory one-year prison sentence.
Emphasizing that terrorism matters require expedited hearing, Justice Abdulmalik granted a final short adjournment strictly at the instance of the defence, fixing October 28, 2026, for the commencement of full trial.
You Might Also Like
