…hearing adjourned till September 3
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the prosecution of Chief Gani Uebari Topba, the Leader and Spokesman of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COP), over alleged acts of terrorism, cybercrime, and attempts to forcibly seize oil wells across Ogoniland. Topba pleaded not guilty to all four counts brought against him before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Topba, who is also a member of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, was arrested and remanded by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the instance of the Federal Government. Following his initial appearance on August 19, he was brought back to court for further proceedings, where the court fixed September 3, 2026, to hear his bail application.
According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government alleges that between May and August 2026, Topba insisted on seizing and detaining all oil wells in Ogoniland. The prosecution states this action was intended to compel the Federal Government to exclude Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited – now operating as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited – and its affiliates from securing oil-related contracts in the region. The prosecution asserts that this act contravenes Section 24 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Additionally, Topba faces charges under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. The government accuses him of intentionally producing and distributing a video via a computer system or network to bully, harass, and intimidate the President-General of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, alongside the organization’s leadership. The prosecution contends that the video put the leaders in fear of death or bodily harm and was designed to destabilize the social, economic, and political structures of Ogoniland and Nigeria, threatening to reignite historical tensions in the region.
During the hearing, DSS counsel A.A. Emefianna orally applied for an adjournment to allow the prosecution sufficient time to respond to the formal bail application filed by the defense. Defense counsel Golden Awi did not object to the postponement but brought to the court’s attention the significant challenges the defense team faced in gaining access to Topba while in DSS custody.
Addressing the issue of legal access, the trial judge, Justice Muhammed Turaki, directed the DSS legal team to cooperate with the defense to resolve all visitation constraints. Justice Turaki subsequently adjourned the case to September 3 for the bail hearing and trial continuation.
The trial underscores the ongoing legal and political complexities surrounding energy security, local advocacy, and the resumption of resource extraction terms in the Niger Delta region.
It was gathered at press time that some young supporters of the Ogoni leader and advocates of resource control and development of the oil-rich region were reportedly considering staging mass protests to demand his immediate release.
It was further learnt that some agitators were of the view that Ogoni land and other oil-producing communities of the region have been neglected by governments with attendant lack of infrastructure and relevant social amenities, a development that has heightened tensions within the already volatile area.
