A Lagos High Court has acquitted and discharged Chief Frederick Nwajagu, the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, from all terrorism charges after he had been incarcerated at Ikoyi Prison since 2023. Nwajagu had faced accusations of terrorism related to his alleged statements regarding the protection of Igbo people in Lagos. The charges were dropped on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, following a ruling by Justice Yetunde Adesanya.
Nwajagu’s legal troubles began on April 5, 2023, when a Lagos Magistrates Court ordered his detention at Ikoyi Prison. Efforts to secure his bail were unsuccessful, and he remained in detention as the case progressed. Nwajagu had been accused of threatening to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to safeguard the lives and properties of Igbo people if the Federal Government failed to protect them from attacks.
However, the High Court ruling on January 15, 2025, dismissed the terrorism charges, which included accusations of attempting to commit acts of terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism, and supporting a proscribed entity. Chief Fabian Onwughalu, one of Nwajagu’s defense attorneys, confirmed the court’s decision in a statement shared with SaharaReporters on Thursday.
Onwughalu explained that Nwajagu, who was being detained for allegedly making a video threatening to invite IPOB to protect Igbo interests in Lagos, was acquitted because the Lagos State Government failed to prove the terrorism charges. The court, presided over by Justice Adesanya, found no evidence to support the terrorism-related claims, thus clearing Nwajagu of all such charges.
Despite this, Nwajagu was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in prison for the offense of parading himself as a certified chief in Lagos, which violates the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State. This conviction stemmed from his alleged role in presenting himself as a recognized chief, a claim that was not in line with the local laws governing chieftaincy titles. After spending almost two years in detention, Nwajagu was ordered to be released immediately.
Onwughalu, while acknowledging the pain of Nwajagu’s incarceration, emphasized that the court’s victory was significant for Igbo people, particularly those in Lagos State who he said had faced persecution and dehumanization based on their tribal identity. He expressed confidence that the legal team would appeal the conviction related to Nwajagu’s self-proclaimed title as a chief, arguing that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to justify it.
He further stated that the Ezeigbo institution, to which Nwajagu belongs, is not legally recognized by Lagos State, and thus the charge under the Oba and Chiefs Law was unwarranted. Onwughalu also noted that the conviction was a violation of Nwajagu’s fundamental right to freedom of association, particularly for the Igbo people in Lagos who have the right to organize and associate freely.
“Although the conviction for parading himself as a chief is painful, we maintain that the charges were unproven,” Onwughalu said. He also expressed pride in being part of the defense team that provided their services pro bono, highlighting the dedication of the team to securing justice for Nwajagu.
The ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal and social issues surrounding Igbo leadership and identity in Lagos State, raising questions about the rights of Igbo people in the region and the legal recognition of their cultural institutions.