Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has scheduled today, Wednesday, to commence the trial of Frederick Nwajagu, the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos, who is facing charges of alleged terrorism.
The trial date was fixed after Nwajagu’s lawyer was absent from the proceedings on Tuesday. The 67-year-old Eze Ndigbo was arrested on April 1, 2023, by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of threatening to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to protect the properties of Igbo people in the state.
On May 9, the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), arraigned the defendant on a nine-count charge related to the alleged offence. The charges include attempting to carry out acts of terrorism, participating in a terrorism meeting to support a proscribed entity, attempting to finance an act of terrorism, and preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
During the proceedings, Nwajagu pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Adesanya adjourned the matter to July 4 for the commencement of the trial.
However, when the proceedings resumed on Tuesday, the prosecution was present, but the defendant’s legal representative was absent. Nwajagu expressed surprise at his lawyer’s absence, stating that the lawyer had promised to be in court with his junior.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the trial to July 5 to allow the defendant to address the issue of legal representation.
It is worth noting that on April 5, a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Sabo, Yaba, remanded Nwajagu for allegedly threatening to bring the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the state.
