remove the ipod device from the account

Remove it in what way ? (And this is the Using iPad forum.)

If it's associated to your account, and it's been more than 90 days since you associated it, then you can log into your account on your computer's iTunes and remove it : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627

If you mean remove it's registration to your account then log into your support profile to remove it : https://supportprofile.apple.com/

If you mean activation lock then see this page : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

Remove from where ? If you've forgotten your iTunes account then see if this page helps : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1920

Otherwise try http://iforgot.apple.com

Is it an old account of yours, or did you buy the device from another person ? If you bought the device from somebody else and it's linked to the previous owner's account then you will need to contact the previous owner, he/she is the only person who can remove it : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

If it's your account and you can't remember your id (you can't remember an account id that you've had starting with a gmail.com email address, starting with 'e', as its primary email address ?) and/or password then have you tried the http://iforgot.apple.com link ?

Or if you can't get the password reset via that link then you can try contacting Support in your country : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5699

You can only activate it by typing in the id that it's tied to and it's password, or by logging into http://icloud.com and removing it from the account.

Unless you can contact them and get him to remove the device from their account then you won't be able to use it.

Activation lock : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

The you have a thin, expensive brick.