The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the remand of a retired officer of the Department of State Services, DSS, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations of supporting the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Ezeakolam was arraigned before Justice Muhammed Umar on a four-count charge bordering on membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, dissemination of messages in support of IPOB, and acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join the group.
The prosecution told the court that the alleged offences, said to have been committed in Abuja and Abia State between 2025 and 2026, contravened Sections 13, 25 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
According to the charge sheet, the retired officer allegedly rendered support to IPOB by providing moral assistance and disseminating the group’s information through the internet and his social media platforms. He was also accused of knowingly aiding and abetting the proscribed organisation by posting messages “calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support IPOB,” and of posting content aimed at advancing the cause of the group.
When the charges were read to him, Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Count One read:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count Two:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count Three:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count Four:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause o Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.
Following the plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in custody pending trial.
Justice Umar granted the application, ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, and adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial.
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