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The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned one of its retired officers, Nwaogu Ezeakolam, for allegedly associating himself with the proscribed terrorist organisation, the 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.
In addition, he was accused of joining IPOB, despite knowing fully well that it is a proscribed organisation.
The offence, the DSS claimed, is “contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Furthermore, Ezeakolam was accused of posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support IPOB, an “offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.”
Also, the retired DSS officer was charged with posting messages on social media platforms aimed at advancing the cause of IPOB.
The secret police said the offence is “contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes Prevention, Prevention, etc. Act, 2015, as amended.”
However, when the charges were read to him, the accused officer pleaded not guilty. DSS lawyer Memunat Oladunjoye asked for a date for commencement of trial.
However, counsel to the defendant, Godfirst Maduka, applied for a date to file a bail application, which Justice Umar said should be filed at any time.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed October 29 for the opening of the trial and ordered that the accused person be remanded at Kuje prison pending his bail application.
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 organisation) through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the 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 organisation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the 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 of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
