The Federal Government has arraigned a retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Ezeakolam was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar on a four-count charge bordering on alleged support for a terrorist organisation, membership of a proscribed group, dissemination of terrorist information and cyber-related offences.
The charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo.
According to the prosecution, the retired DSS operative allegedly provided support and material assistance to IPOB, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He was also accused of joining IPOB despite knowing that the organisation had been declared proscribed, an offence punishable under Section 25 of the same Act.
In another count, the prosecution alleged that Ezeakolam used his social media platforms to publish messages intended to encourage members of the public to support IPOB, contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant was further accused of publishing messages aimed at advancing the cause of IPOB on social media, allegedly contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to all four counts when they were read to him.
Following his plea, DSS counsel, Memunat Oladunjoye, urged the court to fix a date for trial, while defence counsel, Godfirst Maduka, requested time to file a bail application.
Justice Umar directed that the bail application could be filed at any time and subsequently fixed October 29 for the commencement of trial.
The judge also ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that between 2025 and 2026, in Abuja and Abia State, the defendant directly and indirectly rendered support to IPOB by providing moral assistance and disseminating what it described as terrorist information through the internet and his social media platforms.
The remaining counts accused him of joining the proscribed organisation, using social media to encourage public support for IPOB and publishing messages allegedly intended to advance the activities of the group.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
The defendant, however, denied all the allegations by entering a plea of not guilty, setting the stage for trial.
