Ex-DSS Officer Held in Kuje Over Terrorism Claims

A retired officer from the Department of State Services, Ihechimere Ezeakolam, was on Thursday sent to the Kuje Correctional Centre by the Federal High Court in Abuja. This happened after he was charged with terrorism-related offenses linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Ezeakolam appeared before Justice Muhammed Umar on four charges. These charges include allegedly supporting IPOB, being part of the banned group, and using social media to share messages that promote its activities.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

After he pleaded, the prosecution asked for a trial date and requested that he be kept in custody until the case is resolved. Justice Umar then postponed the case until October 29, 2026, for the trial to start and ordered that Ezeakolam be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The charges claim that between 2025 and 2026, in Abuja and Abia State, Ezeakolam provided support to IPOB. This support included what the prosecution called moral assistance and sharing information online to promote the banned group through his social media accounts.

The prosecution argued that this violated Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In another charge, they said Ezeakolam joined IPOB in Abia State during the same period, which goes against Section 25 of the Act.

The DSS accused him of knowingly helping the group by posting messages on social media that were meant to persuade unsuspecting people to support IPOB. This is said to be punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The fourth charge claims that Ezeakolam posted and shared messages on social media aimed at promoting IPOB’s cause. This is said to violate Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.

"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 organization, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022."

"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 offense contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022."

"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 offense contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended," the charges stated.