Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The DSS (Department of State Services) has brought Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a four-count charge over alleged terrorism financing.
He is accused of soliciting and raising funds to support the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram.
Kaigama pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him on Wednesday in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/439/2026.
The DSS also alleged that he withheld information about the activities of the two groups and knowingly solicited, collected, received, acquired, and possessed funds from members of the public, which were allegedly intended to finance ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Kaigama is also accused of knowingly rendering support to the terrorist groups by providing material assistance and financial services to them, and of knowingly dealing in terrorist funds by possessing such funds, facilitating transactions and providing financial services in respect of terrorist funds at the groups’ direction.
Following his not-guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, Dr Caliatus Eze, applied that the defendant be remanded in the protective custody of the DSS in the interest of national security and the defendant himself.
In his ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim overruled the defence and ordered that Kaigama be remanded in DSS custody.
The judge, however, ordered that the defendant be granted unrestricted access to his lawyer and two members of his family his wife and his unclea and directed that he be accorded adequate medical attention.
According to the charge sheet, Kaigama is alleged to have, sometime between January and June 2026, in Abuja and Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, knowingly concealed information about acts of terrorism by ISWAP and Boko Haram both proscribed terrorist groups despite knowing the information could have helped in apprehending suspects or preventing such acts, and failed to disclose it to any law enforcement or security officer.
This is contrary to, and punishable under, Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He is also alleged to have, within the same period and locations, and under the guise of negotiating the release of kidnap victims, solicited, acquired, collected, received and possessed funds from members of the public, knowing the funds would be used to finance the two groups’ activities an offence contrary to Section 21, and punishable under Section 21(2), of the Act.
He is further accused of knowingly rendering support to the two groups by providing material assistance and financial services to them, contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1) of the Act.
In the fourth count, he is alleged to have knowingly dealt in terrorist funds by possessing such funds, facilitating transactions and providing financial services in respect of terrorist funds at the direction of ISWAP and Boko Haram, contrary to and punishable under Section 23(1) of the Act.
