Chief Frederick Nkemdilim Nwajago (Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate)
Lagos arraigns Igbo monarch on terrorism charges for threatening to invite IPOB over arson attacks on markets
Lagos Government has formally arraigned the Igbo traditional ruler in Ajao Estate, in Isolo who famously threatened to invite militants of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) to secure properties under arson attacks, in the fallout of the February 25 and March 11 elections in the state.
Lagos Government had arraigned the monarch, Chief Frederick Nkemdilim Nwajago (Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate), Lagos, on nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, through its Attorney-General, represented by Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya, a Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Justice, Tuesday, May 9.
A statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Grace Alo, also disclosed that on arraignment, Chief Nwajago pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against him.
It would be recalled that the Lagos Police Command, late March, this year, arrested the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, in Isolo, Chief Fredrick Nwajagu, following a viral video where he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protect properties of the Igbo in the state.
The traditional ruler was reacting to the spate of attacks on properties and investments owned by Igbo people in Lagos, on the heels of arson attacks on major markets populated by South East indigenes in the state by miscreants alleged to be deployed by the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).
The attacks were said to be fallout of the choice of political candidates adopted by Igbo residents in Lagos, said to be contrary to the APC support base’s interest.
Igbo residents in Lagos heavily backed the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate during the March 11 State Election, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, even as their support for the same party’s presidential candidate earlier in the February 25 poll resulted in the APC shockingly losing Lagos by a wide margin.
Following the alleged harassment of the Igbo living in Lagos over their choices in the presidential and governorship elections, Nwajagu threatened to invite members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra to secure the properties of Igbo people in the state.
“IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilise for that. We have to do that. We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.
“When they discover that we have our security before they will come, they will take caution. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words, let my words go viral. Igbo must get their right and get a stand in Lagos State,” Nwajagu fumed.
He was arrested by a joint team of policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and first taken to Abuja before return to Lagos to face prosecution.
“On the 9th day of May, 2023, the Hon. Attorney-General of Lagos State represented, by Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya (a Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Justice), arraigned Frederick Nkemdilim Nwajago (Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos) on a nine-count Charge before Hon. Justice Y.A. Adesanya (Mrs.), in Suit No. LD/21505C/2023 – The State of Lagos Vs Frederick Nkemdilim Nwanjago.
“The Defendant was arraigned for the offences of attempting to do Acts of Terrorism under Section 403(2) of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015; Participation in Terrorism Meeting to Support a Proscribed Entity, Attempt to finance an Act of Terrorism, Preparation to Commit an Act of Terrorism under Sections 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, amongst others.
“The Defendant pleaded Not Guilty to all nine counts. The matter was adjourned to the 4th and 5th of July, 2023 for trial,” the state’s Ministry of Justice statement read.
