FG Opposes Bail for Alleged Terrorist Ugochukwu Ibekw

The Federal Government of Nigeria has requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to deny bail to Ugochukwu Ibekw, who faces serious charges of terrorism and oil bunkering, allegedly resulting in the deaths of 500 individuals. Ibekw is accused of tampering with oil pipelines and siphoning crude oil to operate illegal refineries without the necessary licenses.

The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo, argued against bail, emphasizing the gravity of the charges, which could lead to capital punishment. Defense counsel Damian Okoro claimed that Ibekw is a kidney transplant patient and that the evidence against him is not sufficiently established.

However, the court found the defense's arguments unconvincing, particularly regarding the need to protect witnesses who may testify against Ibekw. Consequently, Justice Salim Ibrahim denied the bail application and scheduled the trial to commence on July 1, with the charges dating back to incidents occurring between 1999 and 2025 in the Imo River community.