By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday refused to admit an alleged terrorist and oil bunkerer, Ugochukwu Lucky Ibekwe, to bail.

Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling on Ibekwe’s application, held that though the defendant was said to be a kidney transplant patient, nothing was placed before the court to show that he cannot receive medical attention while in custody during trial.

According to Justice Ibrahim, upon considering the nature of the offence on the charge sheet before this court, I am then persuaded by the grounds given by the complainant/respondent for this court not to exercise the discretion to grant bail as prayed by the defendant/applicant.

“I have also carefully considered the exhibits before the court, particularly Exhibit 6 in the further and better affidavit dated 13th June, 2026, which is a medical report from ZENITH MEDICAL AND KIDNEY CENTRE signed by one Dr Ade E. Faponle.

“It is therefore my opinion that even though the defendant requires medical attention, this can be done while in custody during his trial.

“This application is consequently refused and is hereby struck out,” the judge ruled.

Justice Ibrahim, however, ordered the Federal Government to ensure that Ibekwe is afforded adequate medical care through his medical consultant and be given unrestricted access to his lawyer, Damian Okoro, SAN, and his family members in view of the nature of his ailment.

After the ruling, counsel who appeared for the Federal Government, Victor Alma, informed the court of a motion on notice filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

Alma said the motion sought an order directing the court to be vacated during Ibekwe’s trial and for witness protection.

The judge then adjourned the matter until July 17 for the hearing of the motion and fixed July 24 for ruling on the motion and for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that counsel for the prosecution, Oyedepo, had, on June 22, opposed the bail application filed by Ibekwe, through his lawyer, Okoro.

Oyedepo prayed the court to reject the application for lacking in merit.

NAN reports that the defendant is being prosecuted for allegedly causing death of over 500 persons and also responsible for economic sabotage to the country through bunkering.

Ibekwe, also known as Chief Onwa, was also put on trial by the Federal Government for allegedly tampering with oil pipelines, siphoning crude oil and running illegal refineries without appropriate licence.

He was accused of committing felony offences by paying N2 million into the UBA account number: 1006496099 belonging to one Oliver Amadi, a public officer, for the purpose of exonerating him from the alleged offences.

The prosecution also accused him of receiving N1 million from one Musa Mohammed for permission to engage in illegal tapping of oll pipeline and also agreed to receive the sum N2 million weekly for subsequent operations.

One of the counts alleged that Ibekwe of No. 10, Nwanom Street, Oyigbo in Rivers, sometime between 1999 to 2025, while at Imo River Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, “conspired with one MR. TIMI, IGBO, ALOZYE, OBINNA COOK, DOZY, WILFRED, PRINCE ADEBAYO and others (all at large).”

They were alleged to have operated illegal refining sites, tampered with oi! Pipelines, siphoned crude oil, cooked and sale without appreciate licence.

The offence is contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP. M17 (Revised Edition), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17)(a)(b) of the same Act. (NAN)

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