The Federal High Court in Abuja has examined alleged identification marks on four men standing trial over the killing of a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, Ekpenyong Owoh, in Anambra State.
The examination followed testimony by a DSS investigator, identified as AAA, who told the court that the defendants bore distinctive marks associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), according to Arise News.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed the four defendants to expose their chests for inspection after the investigator alleged that the marks, reportedly bearing the number 14, were given to ESN members as a form of protection. The witness and defence lawyers subsequently confirmed their presence.
The investigator also identified Michael Okafor, one of the defendants, as a sub-commander in the group under an alleged commander, Innocent Obieke, popularly known as Double Lion.
AAA alleged that Owoh was taken to an ESN camp after being intercepted during his journey from Port Harcourt to Awka on February 23, 2022. He told the court that the operative attracted the suspects’ attention after they noticed a pistol holster on him.
The witness further alleged that Obieke ordered Owoh’s execution after the suspects contacted him. According to his account, the operative was shot several times and buried in a shallow grave.
The other defendants are Chinedu Chukwudozie, also known as Kante; Chibunna Olisa; and Chigozie Olisa, alias Ability. They are facing six counts of terrorism and kidnapping and have pleaded not guilty.
In explaining how the suspects were identified, AAA said the investigation initially followed a missing-person complaint from Owoh’s wife. The DSS traced his last known telephone call and vehicle to Osomogu, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A subsequent investigation into the use of Owoh’s telephone number reportedly led to the arrest of Chinyere Okabe on June 20, 2026. The witness alleged that Okafor had given her the operative’s phone and taken possession of his vehicle following the killing.
Okafor was arrested on September 14, 2026, while the other three defendants were apprehended six days later, the investigator told the court.
Proceedings also addressed objections by the defence to the admissibility of statements obtained from the defendants. Their lawyers had questioned whether the statements were made voluntarily, prompting the judge to order a trial-within-trial.
AAA denied allegations of torture, saying the suspects underwent medical examinations and made their statements in the presence of a Legal Aid Council lawyer after indicating that they had no personal legal representatives.
The court admitted the statements and accompanying video recordings into evidence after the defence did not object to their admission at that stage. The recordings showed the suspects being informed of their rights before making statements.
The flash drive containing the recordings was admitted as Exhibit TWT-5 Series.
The case was adjourned until November 16 for the cross-examination of the DSS investigator and continuation of the trial-within-trial.
