Court remands ex-DSS officer in Kuje over terrorism charges
August 7, 2026 2:16 am
A retired officer of the Department of State Services, Ihechimere Ezeakolam, was on Thursday remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre by the Federal High Court in Abuja after he was arraigned on terrorism-related charges linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
Ezeakolam was arraigned before Justice Muhammed Umar on four charges bordering on allegedly supporting IPOB, joining the proscribed organisation, and using social media to disseminate messages said to promote its activities.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending the determination of the case.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the retired DSS officer be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
According to the charge, the prosecution alleged that between 2025 and 2026, in Abuja and Abia State, Ezeakolam directly and indirectly rendered support to IPOB by providing what it described as moral assistance and disseminating information in support of the proscribed organisation through the internet and his social media platforms.
The prosecution said the alleged offence contravened Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, the prosecution alleged that the defendant joined IPOB in Abia State within the same period, contrary to Section 25 of the Act.
The DSS also accused him of knowingly aiding and abetting the group by posting messages on social media allegedly calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support IPOB, an offence said to be punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The fourth count alleged that Ezeakolam posted and caused to be accessed messages on social media aimed at advancing the cause of IPOB, contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
Count Two read, “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.
“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 organisation, 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, 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.
Solomon Odeniyi is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over six years of professional experience. He has covered key national beats including the judiciary, military, and police, and currently reports on anti-corruption and related issues. Solomon’s work reflects a strong commitment to development-oriented reporting, public interest journalism, and accountability.
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