Lagos State High Court sitting at the Race Course, has discharged and acquitted, the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Eze Frederick Nwajagu, of terrorism charges.
Nwajagu was grabbed and thrown into detention by the Lagos State Government in 2023 for terrorism and other offences for allegedly making a video warning a transport chieftain, MC Oluomo and other Yoruba youths, to cease the persecution of the Igbo and burning of Igbo-dominated markets in Lagos State or else he would be compelled to invite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to secure Igbo markets and assets in Lagos State.
Some groups in Lagos, including traditionalists, adopted all forms of mischievous and brutal tactics against Igbo and other people suspected to be from the South-East, attacking and maiming them in the wake of the 2023 presidential election so as to prevent them from casting their ballots for Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
However ruling a no-case submission, the court ruled on Wednesday that the Lagos State Government failed to prove any of the ingredients of the offence of terrorism charges against him.
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.
One of Nwajagu’s lawyers, Fabian Onwughalu, president emeritus of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter, said in a statement on Thursday that the defence team would work towards upturning the conviction on appeal.
“We shall strive to set aside the conviction on parading himself as a Chief in Lagos State on appeal as the prosecution did not prove the offence to warrant the conviction.
“Moreover, the Ezeigbo institution is not recognised by the law of Lagos State, and so have nothing to do with the Oba and Chiefs Law.
“Moreover, the conviction offends the fundamental rights of Freedom of Association of Ndigbo in Lagos State,” he stated.
