{
  "id": 225313,
  "title": "Court remands retired DSS officer over IPOB support, cybercrime",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/court-remands-retired-dss-officer-over-ipob-support-cybercrime",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-06T15:58:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/court-remands-retired-dss-officer-over-ipob-support-cybercrime/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Department of State Services (DSS) has brought retired military officer Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam before the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing four counts related to alleged terrorism-related offenses and cybercrime. Ezeakolam's defense attorney pleaded \"not guilty\" to all charges. The court has now adjourned the case to October 29 for trial commencement and ordered Ezeakolam to be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. The four charges against Ezeakolam are as follows:\n\n1. That Ezeakolam indirectly provided moral support and disseminated terrorist information about the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, through the internet and his social media platforms, thereby committing an offense under Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.\n\n2. That Ezeakolam joined IPOB, a proscribed organization, in Abia State within the jurisdiction of the court, thus committing an offense under Section 25 of the same Act.\n\n3. That Ezeakolam knowingly aided and abetted IPOB by posting messages on social media platforms aimed at persuading members of the public to support IPOB, an offense under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.\n\n4. That Ezeakolam posted messages on social media platforms promoting the cause of IPOB, a proscribed organization, thereby committing an offense under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Promotion, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.",
  "summary": "The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded retired military officer Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam on a four-count charge related to alleged terrorism-related offences and cybercrime. The prosecution argued that Ezeakolam's actions violated Sections 13, 25, and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc) Act, 2015, as amended. The counts against him include providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information, joining a proscribed organization, aiding and abetting the organization, and posting messages that advance the cause of the proscribed organization. Justice Muhammed Umar adjourned the matter until October 29 for the commencement of trial and ordered Ezeakolam to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. IPOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, was proscribed by the Federal Government in 2017 and has since been designated a terrorist organization by a court.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}