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Kenneth Atavti
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday, arraigned a man – Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama – before a Federal High Court in Abuja for, among others, allegedly soliciting and raising funds in support of the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram).
Kaigama pleaded not guilty when the four-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/439/2026, was read to him yesterday.
He is accused of concealing information about acts of terrorism by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram) and directly and willingly solicit, acquire, collect, receive and possess funds from unsuspecting members of the public, with intention and knowledge that it will be used to finance ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Kaigama is also accused of knowingly and directly or indirectly rendering support to terrorist groups by providing material assistance and financial services to ISWAP and Boko Haram, and knowingly dealing in terrorist funds by possessing terrorist funds, facilitating transactions and providing financial services in respect of terrorist funds at the direction of ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Following the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecuting lawyer, Dr Caliatus Eze, applied that the defendant be remanded in the protective custody of the DSS in the interest of national security and that of the defendant.
Ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim overruled the defence and ordered that Kaigama be remanded in the custody of the DSS.
According to the judge, Kaigama should be accorded adequate medical attention.
He adjourned till September 24 for the commencement of trial.
Counts in the charge sheet read:
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult, male, sometime between January – June, 2026, at Abuja and Gwoza LGA, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly conceal information about acts of terrorism by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), an International and Nationally proscribed terrorist groups, knowing the information to be of material assistance in apprehending and preventing the commission of acts of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to any Law Enforcement or Security Officer, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult, male, sometime between January – June, 2026, at Abuja and Gwoza LGA, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in the guise of negotiating for release of kidnap victims, did directly and willingly solicit, acquire, collect, receive and possess funds from unsuspecting members of the public, with intention and knowledge that it will be used to finance the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), an International and National proscribed terrorist groups, for the commission of acts of terrorism and furtherance of their objective, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 21(2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult, male, sometime between January – June, 2026, at Abuja and Gwoza LGA, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and directly or indirectly render support to terrorist groups by providing material assistance and financial services to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), an International and National proscribed terrorist groups, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, adult, male, sometime between January
– June, 2026, at Abuja and Gwoza LGA, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly deal in terrorist funds by possessing terrorist funds, facilitating transaction and providing financial services in respect of terrorist funds at the direction of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), an International and National proscribed terrorist groups, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 23 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
