By Ogadinma Wokoma, Port Harcourt
National News – A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling until July 1, 2026, on the bail application of Ugochukwu Ibekwe, an alleged oil thief and suspected economic saboteur arrested following intelligence gathered by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and other security agencies along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
Ibekwe is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, tampering with oil pipelines, unlawful dealing in petroleum products, operating unlicensed refining sites and money laundering.
The Federal Government, through its prosecution team, opposed his application for bail during the resumed hearing.
The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that the defendant’s activities caused significant economic losses and environmental degradation, and were linked to incidents that reportedly claimed the lives of more than 500 people.
It further alleged that Ibekwe paid over N2 million into the account of a public official in an attempt to obstruct investigations.
Justice Salim Ibrahim adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and other pending applications.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Oyedepo said all parties had agreed to an accelerated hearing of the substantive case to prevent unnecessary delays.
Court documents showed that Ibekwe was apprehended on February 14, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. at the Imo River axis in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State by operatives of PINL, the integrated pipeline infrastructure company responsible for securing the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline.
A PINL official disclosed that the suspect had been on the company’s watchlist for several years.
The official said the arrest followed actionable intelligence gathered by PINL in collaboration with other security agencies.
Describing Ibekwe as a kingpin of pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refining activities along the Imo River corridor spanning parts of Rivers and Abia states, the official said he was handed over to the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for prosecution after his arrest.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendant specialised in compromising security personnel, particularly military officers, to gain access to oil facilities.
It further claimed that during his detention, his wife presented forged Certificates of Occupancy as surety in a bid to secure his administrative bail.
Ibekwe has since been remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kuje Custodial Centre, pending the court’s ruling on his bail application.
