The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to John Jude Agbo, a man arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged plot to launch multiple attacks on schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik refused Agbo’s bail application after the prosecution presented its fourth witness and formally closed its case.
Agbo is facing terrorism and cybercrime charges over allegations that he planned attacks on several schools and threatened the lives of students and teachers.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the defence failed to convince the court that the defendant would not abscond if released on bail. She subsequently ordered that Agbo be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) pending the conclusion of his trial.
Earlier, a DSS officer testified that investigators tracked Agbo and some of his alleged collaborators, including analysing messages purportedly sent to targeted schools demanding large sums of money to avert the planned attacks.
The witness also tendered an audio-visual recording of Agbo’s interview with DSS operatives. The court admitted the recording as evidence and played it in open court before the prosecution formally closed its case.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until September 24 for Agbo to begin presenting his defence.
