Government denies bail for Ibekwe, alleged oil bunkerer charged with terrorism.

The Federal Government has rejected a bail application for Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, a man accused of terrorism and oil bunkering, who is currently on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ibekwe, also known as Chief Onwa, faces charges that he caused the deaths of more than 500 people and engaged in economic sabotage through the illegal bunkering of oil.

He is also alleged to have tampered with oil pipelines, siphoned crude oil, and operated illegal refineries. Prosecutors say he paid N2 million into the UBA account No. 1006496099 of public officer Oliver Amadi to clear himself of these offences, and that he received N1 million from Musa Mohammed for permission to tap an oil pipeline, agreeing to pay N2 million weekly for further operations.

During the hearing before Justice Salim Ibrahim, the accused’s counsel, Damian Okoro SAN, applied for bail on several grounds. Okoro argued that his client is a kidney‑transplant patient and that the terrorism allegations, particularly the claim of 500 deaths, have not yet been proven. He urged the court to grant bail so that his client could address his health needs and prepare his defence. Okoro assured the court that Ibekwe would not abscond or tamper with witnesses if released.

The application was strongly opposed by the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, who represented the federal government. Oyedepo stated that the charges are capital in nature, carrying the death penalty or life imprisonment, and that bail is only appropriate in exceptional circumstances, which the accused has not demonstrated. He rejected the kidney‑transplant claim, citing the absence of acceptable medical records from a government hospital as required by law. Oyedepo also highlighted a statement by Uzoma Randle that more than 500 people died from oil spills and crude‑oil refineries linked to Ibekwe. He raised concerns about the safety of witnesses and requested the judge deny bail and instead order an accelerated trial.

After hearing both sides, Justice Salim Ibrahim set a ruling date of July 1 and scheduled the commencement of the trial.

The indictment lists the following counts:

Count One: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe (a.k.a. Chief Onwa), male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, between 1999 and 2025, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, conspired with Mr. Tim I, Igbo, Aloye, Obinna Cook, Dozy, Wilfred, Prince Adebayo, and others (all at large) to operate illegal refining sites, tamper with oil pipelines, siphon crude oil, and sell it without an appropriate licence, thereby violating Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 (Revised Edition), and Sections 1(17)(a)(b) of the same Act.

Count Two: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, between 1999 and 2025, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, knowingly ran an organized criminal network that destroyed and tampered with critical national infrastructure such as oil pipelines, operated illegal refining sites without a licence, and caused the deaths of more than 500 people due to oil spillage, thereby violating Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2017.

Count Three: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, in February 2025, while at Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, aided and abetted the commission of a felony by inducing Mr. Oliver Amadi (public officer) and paying N2 000 000.00 into his UBA account No. 1006496099 to exonerate himself from alleged illegal crude‑oil dealings, thereby violating Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Sections 1(3) of the same Act.

Count Four: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, between 1999 and 2025, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, willfully tampered with Shell oil pipelines, siphoned crude oil, and illegally refined it without a licence, thereby violating Sections 1(7)(a)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 (Revised Edition).

Count Five: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, in September 2021, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, aided and abetted the commission of a felony by inducing Major Samuel Ojeaga (public officer) and paying N300 000.00 to him through Jude (point‑of‑sale operator) to allow members of his syndicate to operate without interference, thereby violating Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Sections 1(3) of the same Act.

Count Six: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, in August 2023, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, without lawful authority, maliciously granted permission to Musa Mohammed to tap an oil pipeline after receiving N1 000 000.00 as commission and agreed to receive N2 000 000.00 weekly for subsequent operations, thereby violating Sections 1(7)(a)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 (Revised Edition).

Count Seven: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, in 2011, while at the same address, concealed and disguised the origin of illegal funds obtained from unauthorized crude‑oil dealing by building De Bliss Hotel in Obeama, Asa, Oyigbo, thereby violating Sections 15(2)(a) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

Count Eight: That Chief Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, male, adult, resident of No. 10 Nwanom Street, Oyigbo, Rivers State, in 2023, while at the same address, concealed and disguised the origin of illegal funds obtained from unauthorized crude‑oil dealing by building De Bliss Hotel on Imo Obeama Street, thereby violating Sections 18(2)(a) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.