DSS Arraigns Suspected Mastermind Of Kogi Church Attack
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned the suspected mastermind of the 2012 attack on Deeper Life Bible Church, Okene, Kogi State, Abdulazeez Obadaki, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Obadaki was arraigned on Thursday on a six-count charge bordering on membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism, concealment of information on activities of a terrorist group, and escape from lawful custody.
Obadaki was accused in count one of the charge marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/629/2025, of belonging to the Ansaru terrorist group, which he joined through one Abu Muhsab, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Count two reads, “That you, Abdulazeez Obadaki (a.k.a. Bomboy), Male, 42 years old of 10D Lafiya Street, Okene, Okene LGA of Kogi State, sometime around March 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence, to wit: you had information you 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. You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
“That you, Abdulazeez Obadaki (a.k.a. Bomboy), Male, 42 years old of 10D Lafiya Street, Okene, Okene LGA of Kogi State sometime around 23rd February, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly 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 (4) branches of commercial banks, to wit: First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Union Bank and Zenith Bank, all located along Market road, Uromi, Esan North-East LGA, Edo State and after which the sum of N300,000.00 was sent to you as your share of the proceeds of the attack via your Guaranty Trust Bank account (number: 0265399669) that you forwarded. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013”.
Count four alleged that, Obadaki sometime around 23rd February, 2022 did abet one Abu Muhsab and his gang to engage in acts of terrorism, culminating in attacks on four branches of commercial banks at Uromi, Esan North-East LGA, Edo State and after which the sum of N300, 000.00 was sent to him as his share of the proceeds of the attack through his GTB account number, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (1) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In July 2022, Obadaki was alleged in count five to have conspired with one Abu Muhsab and other members of his gang (now at large) 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.
Count six reads, “That you, Abdulazeez Obadaki (a.k.a. Bomboy), Male, forty-two (42) years old of 10D Lafiya Street, Okene, Okene LGA of Kogi State, on or about 5th July, 2022 did escape from the Nigeria’s Custodial Centre, Kuje, where you were held in lawful custody facing terrorism charges. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Code Act.
Obadaki pleaded guilty to count six, which is escape from lawful custody and however, he pleaded not guilty to the other five counts when they were read out to him.
Following Obadaki’s plea, the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter till January 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 Okene church attack, Obadaki was believed to have later led a gang that raided five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, killed 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 Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja.
