Federal Government has opposed the bail application filed by alleged terrorist and oil bunkering kingpin, Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, popularly known as Chief Onwa, who is facing multiple criminal charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ibekwe is standing trial on allegations bordering on terrorism, illegal oil refining, economic sabotage, bribery and money laundering.
The prosecution alleges that he operated illegal refining camps, vandalised oil pipelines, siphoned crude oil and coordinated a criminal network whose activities allegedly resulted in the deaths of more than 500 persons through oil spills and related environmental hazards in Abia State.
At proceedings before Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel to the defendant, Damian Okoro (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail pending trial.
Okoro argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Ibekwe, particularly regarding the allegation that his activities led to the deaths of over 500 people.
He further told the court that the defendant is a kidney transplant patient in need of urgent medical attention.
The senior advocate assured the court that Ibekwe would not abscond, interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence if granted bail.
However, the application was strongly opposed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who appeared for the Federal Government.
Oyedepo argued that the offences charged are grave and carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment and, in some instances, the death penalty.
According to him, bail in such circumstances can only be granted in exceptional cases.
“The defendant has failed to place before the court any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in his favour,” Oyedepo argued.
The prosecutor also challenged claims regarding the defendant’s health status, contending that no credible medical records from a government hospital had been presented to support the assertion that Ibekwe is a kidney transplant patient.
Oyedepo further maintained that evidence available to the prosecution linked the defendant’s alleged activities to the deaths of more than 500 persons resulting from oil spills and related operations.
He also raised concerns over the safety of witnesses expected to testify during the trial and urged the court to reject the bail request in favour of an accelerated hearing.
Following arguments from both parties, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter until July 1 for ruling on the bail application and the commencement of trial.
Details of the Charges
The Federal Government, in an eight-count charge, alleged that between 1999 and 2025, Ibekwe conspired with several persons still at large to operate illegal refining sites, vandalise oil pipelines, siphon crude oil and sell refined petroleum products without the required licences.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred within the Imo River Community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
According to the prosecution, Ibekwe led an organised criminal syndicate involved in the destruction of critical national infrastructure, with the network’s activities allegedly resulting in the deaths of more than 500 people.
One of the charges accuses him of paying N2 million to a public officer, Oliver Amadi, to secure protection and avoid prosecution over illegal crude oil operations.
The prosecution also alleged that he paid N300,000 through an intermediary to one Major Samuel Ojeaga to enable members of the syndicate carry out their activities without interference from security agencies.
Another count alleges that in August 2023, Ibekwe authorised one Musa Mohammed to engage in illegal oil pipeline tapping after receiving N1 million and agreeing to collect an additional N2 million weekly from the operation.
The Federal Government further accused him of laundering proceeds from illegal crude oil activities through investments in hospitality businesses, including De Bliss Hotel in Oyigbo, Rivers State, and another De Bliss Hotel located on Imo Obeama Street.
The offences are alleged to be contrary to provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, as well as the Money Laundering Acts of 2011 and 2022.
Ibekwe has denied all allegations and is awaiting the court’s decision on his bail application.
