A retired operative of the Department of State Services, Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre after being arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
Ezeakolam appeared before Justice Muhammed Umar on Thursday on a four-count charge alleging support for IPOB, membership of the banned group and the use of social media to promote its activities.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded pending the hearing of the case.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter until October 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the former DSS officer be kept at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleged that between 2025 and 2026, in Abuja and Abia State, Ezeakolam provided both direct and indirect support to IPOB by allegedly offering moral assistance and circulating information in favour of the proscribed organisation through the internet and his social media accounts.
The prosecution maintained that the alleged conduct violated Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count accused the defendant of becoming a member of IPOB in Abia State during the same period, contrary to Section 25 of the Act.
The DSS further alleged that he knowingly aided the group by sharing social media posts intended to persuade members of the public to support IPOB, an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He was also accused of publishing and making accessible messages on social media aimed at promoting the activities of IPOB, contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
“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,“ the charges read.
