A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ihechimere Ezeakolam was remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja after he was arraigned over terrorism-related charges.
He was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar on a four count charge bordering on allegedly supporting the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), joining the proscribed organisation, and using social media to disseminate messages said to promote its activities.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges; the prosecution then applied for a trial date and appealed to the court to remand him until the determination of the case.
Justice Umar then adjourned the case until October 29, 2026, for the trial to commence.
The charges reads as follows, “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime in 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“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.
“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, a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.