The Federal Government has opposed the bail application filed by Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, also known as Chief Onwa, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, money laundering and economic sabotage.
Ibekwe is being prosecuted over allegations that his activities in illegal crude oil refining and pipeline tampering led to the deaths of more than 500 persons and caused serious economic damage to the country.
The defendant is also accused of siphoning crude oil, operating illegal refineries without licence, tampering with oil pipelines belonging to Shell, running an organised criminal network, and concealing proceeds allegedly derived from unauthorised crude oil dealings.
At the resumed proceedings before Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel to the defendant, Damian Okoro, SAN, urged the court to grant Ibekwe bail on several grounds.
Okoro argued that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case linking his client to the alleged terrorism offence or the deaths of over 500 persons.
He also told the court that Ibekwe is a kidney transplant patient who needs to attend to his health and adequately prepare for his defence.
The defence counsel assured the court that the defendant would not jump bail, interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence if admitted to bail.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, strongly opposed the bail application on behalf of the Federal Government.
Oyedepo told the court that the charges against the defendant are capital in nature and carry punishments ranging from death sentence to life imprisonment.
According to him, bail in such cases can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, which he argued the defendant had failed to establish.
The prosecution also challenged the claim that Ibekwe is a kidney transplant patient, arguing that no acceptable medical records from a government hospital had been placed before the court as required by law.
Oyedepo further drew the court’s attention to the assertion of one Uzoma Randle, who alleged that more than 500 people had died from oil spillage and illegal crude oil refining activities allegedly linked to the defendant in various locations.
The Federal Government’s lawyer also raised concerns over the safety and protection of witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
He urged the court to refuse the bail application and instead order an accelerated trial of the defendant.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Ibrahim fixed July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and commencement of trial.
According to the charge sheet, Ibekwe is accused in Count One of conspiring with one Mr. Timi, Igbo, Alozye, Obinna Cook, Dozy, Wilfred, Prince Adebayo and others still at large between 1999 and 2025 at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant and the others operated illegal refining sites, tampered with oil pipelines, siphoned crude oil, processed and sold petroleum products without appropriate licence.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007, and punishable under Section 1(17)(a)(b) of the same Act.
In Count Two, the Federal Government alleged that Ibekwe knowingly ran an organised criminal network involved in destroying and tampering with critical national infrastructure, including oil pipelines, and operated illegal refining sites without licence.
The prosecution further alleged that the activities caused the deaths of over 500 persons due to oil spillage, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2017.
In Count Three, Ibekwe is accused of aiding and abetting the commission of a felony in February 2025 at Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The government alleged that he induced one Oliver Amadi, a public officer, by paying N2 million into his UBA account number 1006496099, with the intention of securing his exoneration from allegations of illegal dealing in crude oil without licence.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
In Count Four, the defendant is accused of wilfully tampering with oil pipelines belonging to Shell between 1999 and 2025 at Imo River Community, siphoning crude oil and illegally refining same without appropriate licence.
The charge states that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17)(a)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007.
In Count Five, the prosecution alleged that Ibekwe aided and abetted the commission of a felony sometime in September 2021 at Imo River Community.
He is accused of inducing one Major Samuel Ojeaga, a public officer, by paying him N300,000 through one Jude, a point-of-sale operator, with the intention of allowing members of his alleged syndicate to operate without interference.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
In Count Six, Ibekwe is alleged to have, sometime in August 2023, unlawfully granted permission to one Musa Mohammed to engage in illegal tapping of an oil pipeline after receiving N1 million as commission.
The prosecution also alleged that he agreed to receive N2 million weekly for subsequent operations.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17)(a)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007.
In Count Seven, the defendant is accused of concealing and disguising the origin of illegal funds allegedly made from unauthorised dealing in crude oil by building a hotel known as De Bliss Hotel, located at Obeama, Asa, Oyigbo, Rivers State, sometime in 2011.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 15(2)(a) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
In Count Eight, the Federal Government alleged that Ibekwe, sometime in 2023, concealed and disguised the origin of illegal funds allegedly made from unauthorised crude oil dealings by building another hotel known as De Bliss Hotel, located at Imo Obeama Street.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2)(a) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Ibekwe denies the allegations and is expected to face trial when the matter resumes on July 1.
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