An alleged member of Ansaru terrorist group Abdulazeez Obadaki, said to be mastermind of the terror attacks on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, leading to his escape as well as other detainees who were on lawful custody in July 2022 was on Thursday arraigned before Federal High Court, Abuja.
Obadaki who was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) was also alleged to mastermind attacks on four commercial banks in Edo.
He was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a six-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism offences.
Obadaki, popularly called Bomboy, was alleged to have joined the Ansaru terror group through one Abu Muhsab in count one of the charges.
DSS said the offence is contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Count two alleged that Obadaki, 42, committed the offence, where he had information he knew to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of Abu Muhsab, a terrorist, and failed to disclose the information to any relevant security agency.
The offence is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count three, he was alleged to have, sometime around Feb. 23, 2022, rendered support to a terrorist group by encouraging and assuring Abu Muhsab and his gang to engage in acts of terrorism, culminating in attacks on four branches of commercial banks in Edo.
The banks include First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Union Bank and Zenith Bank, all located along Market road, Uromi, Esan North-East LGA in Edo and after which the sum of N300, 000.00 was sent to him as his share of the proceeds of the attack via his Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0265399669.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Count five accused the defendant of conspired with Abu Muhsab and other members of his gang (now at large), sometimes in July 2022, to attack the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, leading to his escape as well as other detainees who were held in lawful custody at the facility, thereby violating Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.
In count six Obadaki was alleged to have, on or about July 5, 2022, did escape from the Nigeria’s Custodial Centre, Kuje where he was held in lawful custody facing terrorism charges.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Code Act.
Obadaki pleaded guilty to count six, which is escape from lawful custody and however, pleaded not guilty to the other five counts when they were read out to him.
Following Obadaki’s plea, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until Jan. 26, 2026, to enable the court review facts relating to the count he pleaded guilty to, and to hear those he pleaded not guilty to.
The court ordered that the suspect be remanded in the custody of the DSS until the next adjourned date.
It would be recalled that after the attack on Deeper Life Bible Church, Okene in Kogi in 2012, Obadaki was believed to have later led a gang that raided the five commercial banks in Edo, killing several persons, and carted away huge sums of cash.
He was, however trailed and arrested by security forces and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre but escaped shortly during the July 2022 jailbreak at the correctional centre.
(NAN)
