Alleged terrorism: Court to rule in ”Eze Ndigbo’s” bail application

A High Court in Lagos State on Tuesday fixed Friday for ruling in a bail application filed by the ”Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate”, Frederick Nwajagu.

Nwajagu had on Tuesday prayed to the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms.

The defendant, who is charged with terrorism offences, also told the court that he was not a flight risk.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya fixed the date after listening to arguments from both counsel.

The judge adjourned the case until Friday for a ruling on the bail application.

Supreme News reports that Nwajagu was arraigned on May 9 on a nine-count charge, including an attempt to commit acts of terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism, and meeting to support a proscribed entity.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Jonathan Ogunsakin the Lagos State Counsel, informed the court that the case was for argument on bail application.

However, counsel to the defendant, Mr E. C. Obiagu, SAN, told the court that the defendant’s bail application was based on two relieves.

According to him, the defendant is seeking for an order of the court admitting him to bail and an order restraining the respondent from re-arresting him if granted bail.

The Obiagu said that the bail application was supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit, attached with the defendant’s medical report and a written address.

He said he relied on all the paragraphs of the affidavit and a written address, and he had responded to the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution by filing a further and better affidavit.

Obiagu said that he has also responded on points of law to the counter-affidavit.

He said, “Your Lordship has the discretion to grant bail on liberal terms or on self-recognisance. The defendant is not a flight risk. He does not even have an international passport.

“The defendant submitted himself to the DSS when invited. He is a widower with six children; therefore, he cannot abandon his children.”

The senior advocate also said that the defendant was granted bail at the lower court but was not able to perfect it due to its stringent conditions.

He therefore urged the court to grant bail to the defendant.

Responding, the prosecution counsel, Ogunsakin, however, urged the court to refuse the defendant bail and instead order an accelerated hearing.

He said that the circumstances under which the defendant was granted bail at the lower court were different from the information filed against him at the high court.

“The charge brought against the defendant by the Police is materially different from the charge brought against the defendant by the Attorney-General,” Ogunsakin said.

The Lagos State Government had, in a suit marked no. LD/21505C/2023, alleged that the defendant had contravened the provisions of Section 403(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The state stated that the offences also contravened Sections 12(a)(c), 18, 21, and 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Supreme News reports that Nwajagu was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged threat to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to secure the properties of Igbo people in the state.