‘Terrorism’: Court refuses bail application of chief who threatened to bring IPOB to Lagos

A Lagos high court at Tafawa Balewa Square has refused to grant bail to Frederick Nwajagu, the Eze of Ajao estate in the state.

Nwajagu is standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on an attempt to commit terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism and meeting to support a proscribed entity.

Nwajagu was arrested by the police after a video where he made an “inciting statement” surfaced online.

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

The Igbo chief pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him by the state government.

On July 25, he applied for bail on medical grounds through E.C. Obiagu, his counsel.

Obiagu had told the court that the defendant is a widower with six children, therefore, he would not jump bail.

But Jonathan Ogunsanya, prosecution counsel, asked the court to refuse the bail application.

Delivering judgement on Friday, Yetunde Adesanya, the judge, said the court is constrained to refuse Nwajagu’s bail application based on the seriousness of the alleged offence and the severity of its punishment.

“Based on the seriousness of the offence, the severity of the punishment and the proof of evidence before the court, the court is constrained to refuse the bail application,” she said.

“The application for accelerated hearing is hereby granted.”

She also directed correctional centre officials to make an arrangement for the defendant to visit a public hospital for treatment.