The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned seven commanders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) operating under the leadership of Simon Ekpa before a federal high court in Abuja, on charges of terrorism financing.
The charges, filed on 19 November, span three separate cases FHC/ABJ/CR/632/2025, FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2025.
According to the DSS, the accused received funds and other material support from Ekpa and other foreign-based IPOB operatives to fund insurgency and terror activities in southeastern Nigeria.
One of the key suspects, Ibrahim Ali Larabo, reportedly an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Niger, is accused of operating an unlicensed Bureau de Change (BDC) and providing financial services to the Ekpa-led group.
Investigators claim he facilitated large-scale transactions for the movement, financing both arms procurement and operational activities for IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) fighters.
The DSS stated that all seven suspects are recognized as high-ranking IPOB commanders, arms dealers, couriers, and foot soldiers, carrying out directives from Ekpa.
Ekpa was previously convicted on terror-related charges and sentenced to six years imprisonment in Finland.
The prosecution alleges that the suspects’ activities contributed to organized violence and undermined national security, with the court set to hear preliminary motions and evidence in the coming weeks.
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