A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has acquitted the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nwajagu, of terrorism charges after his detention in Ikoyi Prison since 2023.
However, the court convicted him of impersonation, sentencing him to 12 months in prison.
Nwajagu’s troubles began on April 5, 2023, when a Lagos State Magistrates Court in Yaba ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre. Multiple attempts to secure his bail were rejected by the Lagos State High Court.
The charges stemmed from accusations that he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to protect the Igbo community if the Federal Government failed to safeguard them from attacks.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, presiding over the trial, discharged and acquitted Nwajagu of nine counts related to terrorism, including financing, participating in, and attempting to support a proscribed group. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Speaking to reporters, Fabian Onwughalu, a member of Nwajagu’s legal team, 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 presided by Justice Adesanya discharged and acquitted him of all the counts of the terrorism-related offences.”
Nwajagu was convicted of violating the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State by parading himself as a certified chief.
Onwughalu clarified that despite the conviction, the court ordered his immediate release, as he had already spent nearly two years in detention.
While acknowledging the court’s decision, Onwughalu described the acquittal as a victory for the Igbo community, particularly those in Lagos State who face alleged persecution.
“Even though it was painful that Nwajagu was incarcerated, 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 said.
Onwughalu also revealed plans to appeal the impersonation conviction, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case. He further stated:
“The Ezeigbo institution is not recognised by the law of Lagos State, and so has 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.”
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