A High Court sitting in Lagos State has discharged and acquitted Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos, Chief Frederick Nwajagu of all the terrorism charges lodged against him following his incarceration in Ikoyi prison since 2023.
Recall that on April 5, 2023, a Lagos Magistrates Court in Yaba ordered Nwajagu’s remand at the Ikoyi prison, while subsequent efforts to secure his bail were dismissed by the High Court.
Trouble started after he was accused of threatening to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to protect the lives and property of Igbo people if the Federal Government failed to safeguard them against attacks.
However, the court convicted and sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment for the offence of parading himself as a certified chief in Lagos State, contrary to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.
Meanwhile, Chief Nwajagu, who was standing trial before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of Lagos State High Court since 2023, on nine counts bordering on an attempt to commit acts of terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism and meeting to support a proscribed entity, was discharged and acquitted on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Chief Fabian Onwughalu, one of the lawyers representing Nwajagu, disclosed the court final decision in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Thursday.
Onwughalu said, “Eze Fred Nwajagu, Ezeigbo, Ajao Estate, Lagos State was thrown into detention by Lagos State Government for terrorism and other offences allegedly for making a video warning Olu Omo and other Yoruba Youths to cease persecution of Ndigbo and burning of Igbo dominated markets in Lagos State, or else he would be compelled to invite IPOB to secure Igbo markets and assets in Lagos State.
“The Lagos State Government abysmally failed to prove any of the ingredients of the offence of terrorism charges against the young Ezeigbo, and the High Court coram Adesanya, J discharged and acquitted him of all the counts of the terrorism related offences.
“He was however convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the offence of parading himself as a certified Chief in Lagos State contrary to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.”
“Having been incarcerated for almost two years, he was ordered to be released immediately,” he said.
Onwughalu said even though it was painful that Nwajagu was incarcerated, he maintained that the court victory is for Igbo people all over the world, “especially those in Lagos State who are being persecuted and dehumanised just because of their tribal leaning”.
He vowed that their team will appeal Nwajagu’s conviction for parading himself as a chief in Lagos State, claiming that the prosecution did not prove the offence to warrant the conviction.
He stated that the Ezeigbo institution is not recognised by the law of Lagos State, and so have nothing to do with the Oba and Chiefs Law.
“Also the conviction offends the fundamental rights of Freedom of Association of Ndigbo in Lagos State,” he said.
“I am happy to be among the Counsel in the defence team who diligently offered their services pro bono.”