IPOB: Court remands ex-DSS officer in prison over terrorism

The Department of State Services (DSS) Thursday arraigned Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, a former DSS officer for allegedly associating with the proscribed terrorist organisation, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

He was put on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 4- count charge before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar.

The charges were filed against him by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo, SAN.

Among other charges, the former officer was accused of rendering support and material assistance to IPOB, contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

He was also accused of joining IPOB, despite being a proscribed organisation.

The DSS claimed that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of 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 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 Cybercrimes Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.”

However, he has since pleaded not guilty to the offence.

At the proceedings, the DSS lawyer, Memunat Oladunjoye, asked for a date for commencement of trial.

Counsel to the defendant, Godfirst Maduka, applied for a date to file a bail application.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar gave a go ahead.

Justice Umar thereafter fixed October 29 for opening of trial and ordered that the accused person be remanded at Kuje prison pending his bail application.

Count one reads: ‘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 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’