Igbo chief who threatened to bring IPOB to Lagos arraigned for ‘terrorism’

The Lagos government has arraigned Fredrick Nwajagu, the Eze of Ajao estate, for alleged terrorism.

Nwajagu was arraigned on a nine-count charge at the Lagos high court in Tafawa Balewa Square on Wednesday.

On April 1, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the arrest of the chief after a video where he made an “inciting statement” surfaced online.

In the clip, Nwajagu, dressed in his royal regalia, said Igbo indigenes in Lagos must recruit members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to defend their properties from looters.

On April 5, a magistrate court sitting in the Yaba area of Lagos remanded Nwajagu in prison custody.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Nwajagu pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him by the state government.

The Lagos ministry of justice said the alleged offences committed by the chief contravened section 403(2) of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015 and sections 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, amongst others.

The matter was adjourned to July 4 and 5, 2023.