A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has fixed September 3, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and possible commencement of trial of the Leader and Spokesman of the Conscience of Ogoni People, Chief Gani Topba.
Topba is facing a four-count charge bordering on terrorism, alleged seizure and detention of oil wells in Ogoniland, cybercrime, and another related offence.
According to the charges, Topba allegedly insisted on seizing and detaining all oil wells in Ogoniland in an attempt to compel the Federal Government to exclude Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, now Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, and its affiliates from oil-related contracts in Ogoniland.
He was also accused of knowingly or indirectly supporting the commission of an act of terrorism by allegedly making and publishing a video that maligned the leadership of KAGOTE, with the alleged intention of seriously destabilising or destroying the political, economic and social structures of Ogoniland, Rivers State and Nigeria, and causing a recurrence of the crisis that engulfed Ogoniland in 1994.
In the fourth count, Topba was accused of intentionally making and publishing a video through a computer system or network to bully or harass KAGOTE President-General, Lesi Maoi, and other leaders of the organisation, allegedly placing them in fear of death or bodily harm.
The charge stated that the alleged offence contravened Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Also Read: http://Rivers Assembly Passes 2026 Appropriation Bill For Second Reading
Topba, who is a member of the Ogoni dialogue team with the Federal Government on the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), A.A. Emefiana, subsequently applied orally for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to respond to the bail application filed by Topba’s counsel, Golden Awie.
Awie did not oppose the application but informed the court of difficulties being encountered in accessing his client.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Turaki, directed the DSS counsel to resolve the access issues with the defence before adjourning the matter to September 3, 2026, for consideration of the bail application and further proceedings.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Awie explained the charges against his client and described them as frivolous.
The DSS counsel declined to comment on the matter.
