The trial of the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos, Frederick Nwajagu, before a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island, was yesterday, fixed for today following the absence of the defence counsel.
Lagos State Government had on May 9, 2023, arraigned Nwajagu before Justice Yetunde Adesanya on a nine-count charge bordering on attempted acts of terrorism, participating in terrorism and support of a proscribed entity.
The prosecution said his offence contravened the provisions of Section 403(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and Section 12(a) (c), 18, 21 and 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charge. 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 properties of Igbo people in the state.
However, when the matter was called yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Jonathan Ogunsanya, told the court that there was no legal representative for the defendant.
When asked about his counsel, the defendant said that he was surprised about the absence of his counsel. He said his lawyer had promised that he would send a lawyer from his chamber to represent him in court. Following the development, Justice Adesanya adjourned to today for continuation of trial.
