On Wednesday, the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nwajagu, was ordered to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Center by the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba.
Following a viral video in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to protect the properties of Igbo people living in the state, Nwajagu was detained last Saturday.
The 67-year-old was charged on Wednesday in front of the P. E. Nwaka-presiding magistrate court.
He was accused by the police on two charges, including misbehavior and intending to disturb the peace in Lagos State.
Nwajagu committed the offense on March 26, 2023, at No. 2 Akeem Shittu Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos, according to the four-person police prosecution team, led by the OC Legal, Yetunde Cardoso.
“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by making inciting statements, saying that he would bring IPOB terrorist group to shut down Lagos for one month, three weeks, or three days,” the prosecution said.
The team determined that the offenses violated Sections 168(d) and 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Code, 2015.
They requested that the defendant be held in custody for 30 days while they awaited legal counsel from the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecutions.
Yet, the defendant’s attorney pleaded with the court to grant bail in the most lenient terms while presenting their client’s application.
In lieu of the DPP’s legal counsel, the magistrate, who rejected the defense attorney’s plea, ordered the defendant’s immediate remand to the Ikoyi Correctional Center.
For DPP advice, Nwaka postponed the case to May 3, 2023.
Nwajagu allegedly threatened to call IPOB members to Lagos in a 49-second video that went viral on Twitter in order to defend the Igbo people and their assets in the state.
In the viral video, he said, “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 right and get a stand in Lagos State.”
In response to his comments, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the public relations officer for the Lagos Police, stated the command will oppose IPOB’s presence in the state.
The defendant was detained by the Directorate of State Services on April 1, 2023, in an Ejigbo hotel after making the statement.