The Lagos State Government yesterday told the High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) that it had witnesses to defend its terrorism claim against the “Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate”, Frederick Nwajagu.
Nwajagu, 67, was arrested in April by the Department of State Services (DSS) following a viral video allegedly implicating him in what was alleged a terror-related offence.
The video allegedly showed him threatening to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to secure the properties of Igbo people in the state.
On May 9, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo arraigned the defendant on a nine-count charge in a suit marked LD/21505C/2023.
The state told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that Nwajagu’s actions contravened the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act (2022).
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The trial failed to go on Tuesday, following the absence of Nwajagu’s lawyer.
At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Emeka Obiagu, announced appearance for the defendant, while Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Babajide Martins, was the prosecutor.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr. Martins told the court, among others, that he would invite additional witnesses, adding that he had served some relevant documents on the defence.
But Obiagu replied that he was served the documents only on yesterday morning and had not gone through them.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the trial till July 25.