By Ayorinde Oluokun

A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam was on Thursday remanded in Kuje prison after he was arraigned for joining and supporting proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

In the four-count charge, DSS alleged that Ezeakolam joined IPOB, posted messages in support of the proscribed organization and was involved in acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join the proscribed terrorist organization.

DSS said the action of the retired officer was contrary to and punishable under Sections 13, 25, 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

However, Ezeakolam pleaded “not guilty” to all the four counts when they were read to him.

Subsequently, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial.

He also ordered remand of Ezeakolam at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of the trial.

Count One read:
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 of 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.