A Federal High Court in Abuja commenced the trial of John Jude Agbo on Friday for allegedly planning to attack schools in the city. Agbo, arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), faces two charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024. The DSS alleges he used four GSM numbers—08124412783, 08069781274, 08105715028, and 09139681108—to send threatening SMS messages to Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School, and Oakland International British School. According to DSS operative Michael Jego, the first prosecution witness, intelligence about the planned attacks came from a petition filed by Oakland International School on November 28, 2024.
Jego stated that forensic investigation led to Agbo's arrest in Otukpo, Benue State, where incriminating gadgets were recovered. He said Agbo was brought to Abuja and interviewed, during which he gave a statement in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. The prosecution tendered several exhibits, including a compact disc with audiovisual recordings of the interview and a copy of Agbo's extra-judicial statement. The court admitted all evidence in the absence of opposition from defence counsel Hamza Dantani. During cross-examination, Jego confirmed that Agbo admitted involvement in the planned attacks. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to May 12 to allow the prosecution present additional witnesses and exhibits.
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