DSS arraigns former officer, Ezeakolam over IPOB membership, terrorism sponsorship

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned one of its retired officers, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, for allegedly associating himself with the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

Ezeakolam was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a four-count charge preferred against him by the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

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.

He was also 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 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 DSS said the offence is “contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.”

ALSO READ: Alausa inaugurates NBTE governing board for TVET reforms

However, when the charges were read to him, the accused officer pleaded not guilty and the counsel to the DSS, Memunat Oladunjoye prayed the court for a date to commence trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, Godfirst Maduka applied for a date to file bail application which Justice Mohammed Umar said should be filed at any time and fixed October 29 for opening of trial and ordered that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center pending his bail application.

Count one of the charge 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 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”.