The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of four suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of a Department of State Services operative, Ekpeyong Asuquo Owoh.
The suspects were arraigned by the DSS before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a six-count charge involving alleged terrorism and the kidnapping of a DSS officer.
The defendants are Michael Okafor, also known as Onyechimeleze; Chinedu Joseph Chukwudozie, alias Kante; Chibunna Olisa; and Chigozie Olisa, also known as Ability.
The prosecution alleged that the four suspects conspired to carry out terrorist acts and participated in the abduction of Owoh while he was travelling from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Awka in Anambra State.
According to the allegations before the court, the DSS officer was taken hostage during the incident and later died in the course of the operation.
The suspects were also accused of being members of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN. The prosecution further linked them to activities it described as connected to terrorism.
The charges also included allegations of unlawful possession of firearms. The prosecution claimed that the suspects were found to be involved with weapons, including AK-47 and pump-action rifles, allegedly in connection with the offences.
The case followed investigations by security authorities into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of the DSS operative, as well as the alleged activities of the four defendants.
When the charges were read to them in court on Monday, all four suspects pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following their pleas, DSS counsel, Munirat Oladunjoye, asked the court to schedule the matter for trial. She informed the court that the prosecution had three witnesses who would testify during the proceedings.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently fixed October 6, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the four defendants remain in DSS custody pending further proceedings.
Kelvin Ekwe represented the four suspects during the arraignment.
The allegations against the defendants remain before the court, and their pleas mean the prosecution will be required to prove the charges during trial.