The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed that a former official of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
A former officer was arraigned for, among other things, supporting a banned terrorist organisation, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), The Nation reported.
He was arraigned on four counts of joining IPOB, sending messages in support of the banned organisation and engagement in conduct capable of enticing unsuspecting members of the public to join IPOB.
The DSS informed Justice Muhammed Umar, the judge presiding over the hearing, that the retired officer’s action contravened and was criminal under sections 13, 25 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Upon the accusations being read out to Ezeakolam, he pleaded “not guilty” to all the four counts. The prosecution then asked for a date for the trial and for him to be kept in custody until the trial.
Justice Umar deferred the case till October 29 for the opening of hearing. He also directed that Ezeakolam be kept in the Kuje Correctional Centre.
One Count stated:
That you Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime in the year 2025 and 2026 at Abuja and Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly and or indirectly render support by giving 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 II
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, at some time in the years 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Three Count:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime in the year 2025 and 2026 at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly or 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 IV:
That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime in 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 the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.
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