Justice Ibrahim Salim of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, an alleged ransom negotiator for Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists, be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of his trial on November 13.
Kaigama was arraigned by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Tuesday on a seven-count amended charge bordering on terrorism and other offences.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, DPPF, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, led the prosecution team, while the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the plea, the DSS lawyer asked the court to remand the defendant at Kuje Correctional Centre and order an expedited trial.
However, the defendant’s lawyer, Chris Abengowe, made efforts to argue a bail application, but the application could not be entertained.
The bail application could not be heard because it was predicated on charges that had been struck out, while the DPPF indicated an intention to file a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request.
In a brief ruling, Justice Salim fixed November 13 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant remain in custody pending the hearing of his bail application.
The seven counts against the defendant are as follows:
COUNT ONE
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, aided the activities of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group when you established unauthorised communication and ransom negotiations with its members, contrary to Section 26(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 24(1)(a) of the same Act.”
COUNT TWO
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, 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, contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
COUNT THREE
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received ransom money from the family of a hostage, which sum you had reasonable grounds to believe would be used to finance terrorism, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1)(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
COUNT FOUR
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly rendered support to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) by soliciting and mobilising financial contributions from the family of a hostage, contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
COUNT FIVE
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence with intent to defraud by sending messages through the WhatsApp platform, via the BOSYA group, and Facebook to the family of the victims, requesting them to pay ransom to you for onward transmission to the terrorists. As a result of receiving your messages and relying on them, the family of the victim suffered damages or loss amounting to over N1.8 million, contrary to and punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
COUNT SIX
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult male of FCT Abuja, on or about July 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, mobilised members of the affected communities to stage protests against Senator Ali Ndume and the Borno State Government, thereby inciting public disorder, contrary to and punishable under Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
COUNT SEVEN
“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.”
