Witness tells court how suspect allegedly murdered DSS operative, took his car and gave phone to girlfriend

A Department of State Services (DSS) witness has told a federal High Court in Abuja that Michael Okafor, a suspect standing trial over the murder of the agency's operative, Ekpenyong Asuquo Owoh, took the deceased car and gave his phone to his girlfriend.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the witness, identified by the code name AAA for security reasons, said Okafor converted Owoh’s Toyota Pontiac to his personal use after the operative was murdered.

He also alleged that Okafor gave Owoh’s phone to his girlfriend, Chinyere Okabue, as a gift. 

“When we found out that the lady did not know anything about our personnel’s abduction, we granted her administrative bail,” he told the court.

AAA, a DSS investigator who said he had worked with the agency for about 17 years, testified as the first prosecution witness in the trial of Okafor, Chinedu Chukwudozie, Chibunna Olisa and Chigozie Olisa.

The defendants were arraigned on September 28 on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism and kidnapping. They pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to commit acts of terrorism, abducted Owoh while he was travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers state, to Awka, Anambra state, and subsequently murdered him.

They were also accused of belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as well as unlawfully possessing firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.

Led in evidence by Munirat Oladunjoye, prosecution counsel, AAA narrated how the DSS traced Owoh’s last movements after his wife reported him missing in February 2022.

He said a technical analysis of the operative’s movements showed that he was last seen alive in Osomogu, Ihiala LGA of Anambra state. His Toyota Pontiac was also traced to the community.

According to the witness, the DSS worked with the military because the area was an IPOB and ESN stronghold.

He said the operation led to the arrest of one Okabue on June 20, 2026, which subsequently helped investigators track down the four defendants.

AAA said Okafor was arrested on September 14, while the other three defendants were apprehended on September 20.

Recounting the alleged murder, the witness said Owoh had called his wife on February 23, 2022, to inform her that he would be returning home to see their newborn baby.

He alleged that Okafor, whom he described as an ESN sub-commander, and the other defendants intercepted Owoh and took him to their camp.

The witness said Chibunna Olisa drove Owoh’s vehicle to the camp, where the operative was held until a sub-commander identified as Double Lion allegedly directed Okafor to kill him.

“He was shot several times and buried in a shallow grave,” AAA told the court.

He added that the four defendants had marks identified as ESN insignia on their bodies, allegedly given to them as a sign of protection.

The judge subsequently directed the defendants to step forward and expose the marks for inspection. The witness and defence lawyers, K.C. Ekwe and G.U. Oputa, confirmed that the marks were present.

AAA further told the court that Okafor travelled to Côte d’Ivoire and later India, where he allegedly became involved in criminal activities and was deported around 2024.

He said Okafor returned to Nigeria, kept a low profile and worked as a bricklayer in Azia, Ihiala LGA, before his arrest.

The witness also said the defendants voluntarily made statements in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.

He said they were informed of their right to remain silent and that anything they said could be used against them in court.

The statements were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits after the defence lawyers did not raise objection.

The judge adjourned the case until November 16 for the cross-examination of AAA in the trial-within-trial and the continuation of proceedings.

She warned that the defence lawyers risked having their right to cross-examine the witness foreclosed if they failed to appear.