A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ezeakolam, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of involvement with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Ezeakolam appeared before Justice Mohammed Umar on a four-count charge bordering on alleged support for and membership of the outlawed group.
The charges were instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who accused the former DSS operative of providing support and material assistance to IPOB in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the prosecution, Ezeakolam allegedly rendered moral support to the group through information disseminated on the internet and social media platforms. He was also accused of becoming a member of IPOB despite being aware that the organisation had been proscribed.
The prosecution further alleged that the retired officer used social media to publish messages intended to encourage members of the public to support IPOB, an act said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He was equally charged with posting online messages allegedly aimed at promoting the activities of the proscribed organisation, an offence said to be punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
When the charges were read in court, Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following the plea, DSS counsel, Memunat Oladunjoye, urged the court to fix a date for trial.
Counsel to the defendant, Godfirst Maduka, informed the court of his intention to file a bail application and requested time to do so. Justice Umar ruled that the application could be filed at any time.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application.
The four-count charge includes allegations that Ezeakolam, between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja and Abia State, provided moral assistance to IPOB through online publications, joined the proscribed organisation, posted messages calculated to persuade members of the public to support the group, and published materials intended to advance its cause, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
(Channels)
