IPOB: Court Grants Lagos Eze Igbo Bail Over Inciting Comment

The Lagos State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, has granted bail the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Fredrick Nwajagu, who was arraigned before it for allegedly threatening to invite the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the state.

The Chief Magistrate Peter Nwaka granted the 67 year old Eze Igbo bail in the sum of N1 million with four sureties, all of whom must be residents in Lagos.

The court also ordered that one of the sureties must own a property in Lagos registered with the land bureau, and documents must be deposited with the court.

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Before the court granted the defendant bail, the police Prosecutor had made an oral application that the court should not entertain the bail application filed by the defendant until the court receives the DPP’s advice.

Counsel to the defendant, Nkechi Agubuzor, had, however, argued that the court must balance the cause of justice and same should be exercised judicially and judiciously.

She then sought the court’s permission to move her oral application on behalf of her client.

While noting that the DPP’s advice was not received, the magistrate also pointed out that no acknowledgement had come from the DPP’s office.

After listening to the oral application of the defendant’s counsel, Magistrate Nwaka granted bail to the defendant.

The defendant was arrested on April Ist 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.

At the court’s last sitting on April 5th, Nwajagu, aged 67, was docked before the court by the police on a two-count charge of conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The police prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the Eze Ndigbo and some others at large committed the offences on March 26 at No. 2, Akeem Shitu St., Ajao Estate, Lagos State.

He alleged that Nwajagu put fear in Lagos residents when he threatened to bring IPOB to the state. Nwajagu was also said to publicly state that IPOB would shut down Lagos State for one month.

According to Nurudeen, these alleged offences contravene Sections 168 (d) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Being a remand proceeding to ensure lawful detention, the defendant’s plea was not taken at that proceeding.

The court simply ordered the defendant’s remand at the Ikoyi custodial facility for 30 days pending the legal advice of the State’s Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

The Chief Magistrate said he would await the advice of the state’s DPP, Dr Babajide Martins, on how to proceed before adjourning the case till today,y May 3, for mention.