Nine months after Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate in Lagos, Frederick Nwajiagu, was arrested and arraigned before a High Court sitting in Lagos State on nine counts of alleged terrorism, he has remained in detention without conviction, acquittal or discharge.
In May 2023 reported that Nwajiagu was arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the state high court sitting Tafawa Balewa Square by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on nine counts.
He was accused of “attempt to do acts of terrorism, participation in terrorism, meeting to support a proscribed entity, attempt to finance an act of terrorism and preparation to commit an act of terrorism, preferred against him by the state government.”
A Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Jonathan Ogunsanya, who represented the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, had told the court that the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate violated the provision of sections 403(2) and 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
However, when the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty and the judge adjourned till July 4, 2023 for commencement of trial.
On Monday, SaharaReporters gathered that Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate is still in detention while no judgment has been delivered on his case.
When contacted on Monday for an update on the case, including the possible reason for Nwajiagu’s detention, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said “I cannot speak on a matter that is already in court.”
Nwajiagu was arrested on April 1, 2023 following a viral video in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.
In the 49-second viral video, Nwajago was heard saying, “IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilise for that.
“We have to do that. We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.
“When they discover that we have our security before they will come, they will know that we have our men there. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words, let my words go viral. Igbo must get their rights and get a stand in Lagos State.”
Following his arrest, the 67-year-old had earlier been taken before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, which made an order that he should be remanded in prison custody.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer