Court Remands Retired DSS Officer Over Alleged IPOB Support

A retired officer of the Department of State Services, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has been remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre after being arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on four charges alleging support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Daily Post reported that the charges were filed against Ezeakolam on Thursday, August 6, by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo SAN, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar. The counts accuse him of rendering support and moral assistance to IPOB, joining IPOB despite knowing it was proscribed, posting messages calculated to induce the public to support IPOB, and posting messages aimed at advancing IPOB’s cause.

Vanguard reported the same arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the presiding judge was Justice Muhammed Umar, and confirmed the four-count charge, the not-guilty plea and the adjournment to October 29 for the start of trial.

Daily Post recorded that Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to all four counts when they were read to him. DSS prosecutor Memunat Oladunjoye asked for a trial date, while defence counsel Godfirst Maduka applied for a date to file a bail application.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, according to Daily Post, fixed October 29 for the start of trial and ordered that the retired officer be remanded at Kuje prison pending the bail application.

The charges draw on Sections 13, 25 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended, Daily Post and Vanguard reported. The filings are linked to alleged conduct at Abuja and Abia State between 2025 and 2026.

Sources: Daily Post and Vanguard.