Lagos Court Rejects Bail Application of Eze Ndigbo, Nwajagu, Over Alleged Terrorism

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, has turned down the bail application of Frederick Nwajagu, the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, who is facing charges related to alleged terrorism.

The vacation judge cited the gravity of the offence and the severity of its punishment as reasons for denying bail.

Nwajagu is currently standing trial on a nine-count charge, including attempts to commit acts of terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism, and supporting a proscribed entity. In response to the charges, the defendant applied for bail on July 25, 2023, citing medical reports and asserting that he is not a flight risk.

However, during the resumed hearing on Friday, the court declined the defendant’s bail application and instead ordered for an accelerated hearing of the case. Justice Adesanya emphasized that the severity of the alleged offence and the weight of evidence presented necessitated the refusal of bail.

Nonetheless, the judge directed correctional facility officials to make arrangements for the defendant to receive medical treatment at a government hospital.

The hearing has been adjourned until October 3, 2023, to proceed with the accelerated process.

During the previous adjourned date, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. E. C. Obiagu (SAN), pleaded with the court to grant bail to Nwajagu based on his medical condition. Obiagu emphasized that the defendant, a widower with six children, has strong ties to the community and would not evade bail. He also pointed out that Nwajagu does not possess an international passport, making him a low flight risk.

In response, the Lagos state Deputy Director for Public Prosecutions, Jonathan Ogunsanya, urged the court to reject the defendant’s bail application and urged for an accelerated hearing.

Ogunsanya argued that the charges against Nwajagu at the high court differed materially from those filed against him at the lower court, and thus, the circumstances of his previous bail were no longer applicable.

The Lagos state Government brought the suit against Nwajagu, alleging that his actions violated Section 403(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, as well as Sections 12(a) (c), 18, 21, and 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Nwajagu’s arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services stemmed from an alleged threat to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to protect the properties of Igbo people in the state.