A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled September 3, 2026, to hear a bail application and possible commencement of the trial of Chief Gani Topba, leader of the Conscience of Ogoni People
Togpa is facing a four-count charge bordering on terrorism, cybercrime, and related offences brought before the court by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The leader of the conscience of Ogoni People, is also accused of threatening to seize and detain all oil wells in Ogoniland to compel the Federal Government to exclude Shell (now Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited) and its affiliates from oil-related contracts in the region.
Additional counts allege that Topba published a video supporting terrorism by seeking to destabilize the political, economic, and social structures of Ogoniland, Rivers State, and Nigeria, thereby trying to repeat the 1994 Ogoni crisis, that claimed the lives of so many Ogoni illustrious sons.
In the fourth count, he was accused of using a computer network to harass KAGOTE President General Lesi Maoi and leadership, placing them in fear of bodily harm under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cyber Crimes Act, 2015.
Topba, who participates in the Ogoni dialogue with the federal government regarding oil exploration resumption, pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.
DSS counsel A.A. Emefiana requested an adjournment to respond to the defence’s bail application.
Defence counsel Golden Awi did not oppose the adjournment but raised concerns regarding access to his client, which Justice Muhammed Turaki directed the DSS counsel to resolve the access issues with the defense before adjourning the matter.
Counsel to the DSS declined addressing the press outside the courtroom while defence counsel Golden Awi dismissed the charges as frivolous.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
