Abuja — August 6, 2026
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned one of its retired officers, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, on four counts bordering on terrorism after accusing him of associating himself with the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Arraignment Before Federal High Court
Ezeakolam was arraigned on Thursday, August 6, 2026, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo, SAN, following investigations carried out by the DSS. He had been held at a DSS detention facility ahead of the arraignment.
The Four-Count Charge
Among the allegations, the retired officer is accused of rendering support and material assistance to IPOB, an offence the DSS says is punishable under Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. He also faces a separate count for allegedly joining IPOB despite knowing it is a proscribed organisation, an offence said to be punishable under Section 25 of the same Act.
The charge sheet alleges that between 2025 and 2026, in Abuja and Abia State, Ezeakolam directly and indirectly rendered support to IPOB by providing moral assistance and disseminating the group’s information through the internet and his social media platforms. A separate count further accuses him of posting and causing to be accessed on social media, messages aimed at advancing IPOB’s cause, an offence the DSS says falls under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
His plea was expected to be taken by Justice Umar at Thursday’s hearing.
Background: A Prior Whistleblower Dispute
The arraignment comes weeks after Ezeakolam had separately gone public with allegations against the DSS. He had accused senior officials of the agency of subjecting him to intimidation and an extended detention after he raised concerns over the management of welfare funds belonging to retired DSS officers, in his role challenging the leadership of an association of retired DSS personnel. He said he was earlier charged before a Magistrate Court in Abuja over comments he made on an internal WhatsApp platform and was granted bail in that matter. The DSS has not publicly responded to those specific claims, and the current terrorism charges are being handled separately by the Federal High Court.
What Happens Next
The case adds to a growing list of terrorism-related prosecutions the DSS has brought against individuals and groups it links to IPOB and its proscribed activities in Nigeria’s South-East. Further proceedings, including Ezeakolam’s plea and any bail application, are expected to follow as the matter progresses before Justice Umar.
