court to hear bail application Sept. 3
By Davies Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT: The Federal Government of Nigeria, has commenced the prosecution of the Leader and Spokesman of the Conscience of Ogoni People, COP, Chief Gani Topba, on a four count of Terrorism, seizure and detention of all oil wells in Ogoniland against the Federal Government, Cyber Crimes.
The was as the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has fixed 3rd of September, 2026 to consider of bail application and possible trial of Topba.
The Department of Security Services, DSS, had at the instance of Federal Government arrested and detained Topba over the said allegations.
On the 19th of September the accused was brought to court, but was later remanded in DSS custody till Monday.
According to the charges, Topba is alleged to have consistently insist on seizing and detaining all oil wells in Ogoniland In order to compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to preclude Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (now Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited) and all its affiliates from all oil related contracts in the area.
He is also alleged to have knowingly or indirectly rendered support to the commission of an act of terrorism by willfully making and publishing a video which allegedly maligned the leadership of KAGOTE, with the intent to seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic and social structure of Ogoni land, the entire Rivers State and Nigeria, and have a repeat of the crisis that engulfed Ogoni land in 1994.
In count four, the leader of the Conscience of Ogoni People is alleged to have intentionally made and published a video through a computer system/network to bully or harass the President General of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, and the entire leadership of the group which communication placed them in fear of death or bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24(2) (a) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Act, 2015.
The count three and four read: COUNT 3: “That you, Gani Uebari Topba of Zaakpon Community, Khana Local Government Area, resident at Reefcot Estate, Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State, between May and August 2026 at Port-Harcourt in Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area and Zaakpon Community in Khana Local Government Area, within the jurisdiction of this court, did consistently insist on seizing and detalning all oil wells in Ogoni Land in order to compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to preclude Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (now Renaissance. Africa Energy Company Limited) and all its affiliates from all oll related contracts in Ogoni Land and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.”
COUNT 4: “That you, Gani Uebari Topba of Zaakpon Community, Khana Local Government Area, resident at Reefcot Estate, Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State, on 10th August, 2026, at Port-Harcourt in Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area, within the jurisdiction of this court, intentionally made and published a video through a computer system/network to bully or harass the President General of KAGOTE and the entire leadership of the group which communication placed them in fear of death or bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24(2) (a) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
When the charges were read, Topba, who is a member of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against him.
However, the counsel for Department of Security Services, DSS, A A Emefianna, orally applied for an adjournment to enable them respond to bail application by the defense counsel, Golden Awi.
Awi, counsel for Chief GANI TOPBA did not oppose to the oral application, but informed the court about difficulties been faced in accessing his client.
The trial judge, Justice Muhammed Turaki, after asking DSS counsel to resolve the issues with the defense counsel, adjourned till 3rd of September, 2026 for bail application and full trial.
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