The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the suspected mastermind of the 2012 attack on the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene, Kogi State.
His arraignment comes just 48 hours after the service secured a 20-year jail sentence for an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Hussaini Ismaila, for terrorism-related offences.
Obadaki is facing a six-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja, including membership of a terrorist organisation, conspiracy, aiding terrorism, withholding information on terrorist activities, and escaping from lawful custody.
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He pleaded guilty only to the charge of escaping from custody while maintaining his innocence on the remaining counts.
Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, to review the facts relating to the count he admitted to and to proceed with trial on the others. She ordered that he remain in DSS custody pending the next sitting.
Obadaki was earlier linked to a string of violent crimes after the Okene church attack, including leading a gang that raided five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, killing several people and carting away large sums of money. He was later arrested and detained at Kuje Prison before escaping during the July 2022 jailbreak.
Security sources said he confessed to coordinating the Kuje jailbreak shortly after his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.
In a related development, the DSS also arraigned social media user, Innocent Chukwuemeka, for allegedly using his “X’’ account to advocate a coup in Nigeria. He faces a six-count charge bordering on publishing false information to cause public alarm and cyberstalking.
Chukwuemeka pleaded not guilty, and his trial is also scheduled for January 26, 2026. He has been remanded in DSS custody.
