The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned one of its retired officers, Mr. Nwaogu Ezeakolam, for allegedly identifying with the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Ezeakolam was put on trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a four-count charge before Justice Mohammed Umar.
The charges were filed against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Among others, the former officer was accused of rendering support and material assistance to IPOB, contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
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 read: “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 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 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 organisation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count four read: 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.”
After the charges were read, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to all four counts.
Following his plea, counsel for the secret police requested that the matter be fixed for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.
The presiding judge, Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29 for the commencement of trial and ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
