Lagos State Court Charges Eze Ndigbo For Terrorism

Fredrick Nwajago, the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos' Ajao Estate, has been charged with terrorism by the Lagos State Government.

He was charged on nine counts in court, including "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."

Following a viral video in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to protect the possessions of Igbo people living in the state, Nwajagu was detained on April 1.

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 right and get a stand in Lagos State."

He was brought by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Tuesday and arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.

Jonathan Ogunsanya, a deputy director in the ministry of justice, testified in court on behalf of Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, the attorney general of Lagos State, that the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate had violated sections 403(2) and 12(c), 18, 21, and 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendant, however, entered a not guilty plea when the charges were directed at him.

The trial was delayed by the judge until July 4.