Nwajiagu was arrested on April 1, 2023 following a viral video in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.
A human rights activist, Okechukwu Nwanguma, has called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the socio-cultural and political organisation to take immediate action regarding the continued detention of Frederick Nwajagu over alleged terrorism.
SaharaReporters in May 2023 reported that Nwajagu was arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court.
He was arraigned by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on nine counts.
Nwajiagu was arrested on April 1, 2023 following a viral video in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.
He was accused of “attempt to do acts of terrorism, participation in terrorism, meeting to support a proscribed entity, attempt to finance an act of terrorism and preparation to commit an act of terrorism, preferred against him by the state government.”
A Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Jonathan Ogunsanya, who represented the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, told the court that the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate violated the provisions of sections 403(2) and 12(c), 18, 21, 29 & 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
However, when the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty and the judge adjourned the matter till July 4, 2023 for the commencement of trial.
In the 49-second video, Nwajago was heard saying, “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 know that we have our men there. 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 rights and get a stand in Lagos State.”
Following his arrest, the 67-year-old was first taken before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, whiche ordered that he should be remanded in prison.
However, Okechukwu Nwanguma in a statement on Sunday, urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to intervene on behalf of Nwajagu and call on the Lagos State Government to drop all charges against him.
He added that it is imperative that the organisation stand for justice and equality for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background.
The statement reads in part, "I hereby call upon Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the socio-cultural and political organization dedicated to representing and advancing the interests of the Igbo people in Nigeria, to take immediate action regarding the continued unjust detention of Frederick Nwajagu.
"Mr. Nwajagu has now spent nearly two years in prison following his arrest in April 2023 for threatening to invite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protect Igbo businesses and properties amidst growing threats and attacks from certain ethnic bigots in Lagos.
"It is deeply concerning that those who made the initial threats which Mr. Nwajagu responded to have not faced legal consequences, while he has been left to languish in prison. This situation highlights what appears to be a discriminatory application of the law driven by ethnic bias.
"I urge Ohanaeze Ndigbo to intervene on behalf of Mr. Nwajagu, advocating for the Lagos State Government to drop all charges against him. It is imperative that we stand for justice and equality for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background.”
"I believe that the voice of Ohanaeze can be a powerful instrument in ensuring fairness and representation for all members of the Igbo community," he said.