Remand at Kuje Correctional Center till trial begins on November 13, according to Justice Ibrahim Salim’s decision from the Federal High Court in Abuja. Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama is accused of being a ransom negotiator for terrorists affiliated with Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP.
On Tuesday, the DSS arraigned Kaigama on a seven-count revised indictment that included acts related to terrorism and others.
The prosecution was headed by Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), and the defendant entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
The DSS attorney then requested that the court accelerate the trial and remand the defendant to Kuje Correctional Center following the plea.
Chris Abengowe, the defendant’s attorney, tried to argue a bail motion, but the court would not hear him.
The DPPF had previously signalled their intention to submit a counter-affidavit challenging the bail request, and the bail application could not be considered since it was based on dropped accusations.
Justice Salim quickly ruled that the trial would begin on November 13 and that the defendant would remain in jail until his bail application was heard.
Here are the seven accusations levelled against the accused:
ONE TIMEM
“That on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an adult male from FCT Abuja, participated in the activities of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group by engaging in unlawful communication and ransom negotiations with its members, in violation of Section 26(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 24(1)(a) of the same Act.”
SUM OF TWO
According to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, “that you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, committed an offence by having information about the activities of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group which you knew would have been of material assistance in its apprehension, prosecution and conviction but failed to disclose such information to a law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable.”
REMEMBER THE 3
“Your Honourable Court finds that you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an adult male from FCT Abuja, received money as ransom from a hostage’s family on or around July 2026. You had reasonable grounds to believe that this sum would be used to fund terrorism, which is contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1)(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Tally up four
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an adult male from FCT Abuja, violated Section 13(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, by soliciting and mobilising financial contributions from the family of a hostage, knowingly providing support to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”
TIMETABLE 5
That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an adult male from FCT Abuja, committed an offence with the intent to defraud on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by sending messages to the victims’ families via WhatsApp, the BOSYA group, and Facebook, demanding ransom money to be sent to terrorists.
It has been established that you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an adult male from FCT Abuja, incited public disorder by organising protests against Senator Ali Ndume and the Borno State Government in July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. This conduct is contrary to and punishable under Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap.
That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly retained the sum of N1.8 million, being ransom money paid into your GTB account by the family of the victims, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”