Terrorism: Court remands ex-DSS official in Kuje Correctional Centre

A retired officer of Nigeria's Department of State Services, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has been ordered to be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The Federal High Court in Abuja made the decision on Thursday, remanding Ezeakolam pending his trial for allegedly supporting the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

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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.

The Department of State Services arraigned Ezeakolam on a four-count charge. The charges include joining IPOB, disseminating messages in support of the proscribed organization online, and engaging in activities that could encourage the public to join IPOB. The prosecution stated that Ezeakolam's actions violated sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

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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, a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution requested a trial date and for the officer to be remanded in custody. Justice Muhammed Umar granted the request, adjourning the trial to October 29 and ordering Ezeakolam's remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The charges detail his alleged support through moral assistance and the dissemination of information via social media platforms between 2025 and 2026.

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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.