Freed Of Terrorism Charges, Court Jails Nwajagu For Parading As Chief In Lagos

By Charles Igbo

Counsel says Nwajagu will appeal the conviction

The joy which radiated the face of Fred Nwajagu, Eze Ndigbo, Ajao Estate, Lagos, was short-lived. Freed by a Lagos Court of terrorism charges, Nwajagu was jailed for parading himself as, allegedly, a certified Chief in Lagos. But it is a charge he strongly denies, and so, has decided to appeal his conviction by the Court.

Nwajagu’s ordeal started in 2023 when he made a viral video  which didn’t go down well with the Lagos State Government. The video was in response to threats against the Igbo by MC Oluomo and others of his ilk.

In the video, Nwajagu warned Oluomo and others to stop the persecution of the  Igbo in Lagos and allegedly, setting on fire markets in Lagos, mostly dominated by the Igbo. To stem a situation where the markets are, allegedly, deliberately set on fire, and looted in pretence of saving some goods,  Nwajagu in the viral video, said he would be forced to invite some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to the Lagos markets to keep watch and repel mischief makers.

That was what earned him an arrest on the orders of the Lagos State Government, charges of terrorism, and parade of himself as a Traditional Ruler in Lagos, no thanks to his title as Eze Ndigbo Ajao Estate, a title very common in Lagos Communities  and elsewhere.

For two years, he was thrown into jail and refused bail while his prosecution in Court progressed.

However, on January 15, 2025, the long drawn case ended. The Honourable

Justice J. Adesanya of a Lagos High Court discharged and acquitted Nwajagu of terrorism charges as brought against him by the Lagos State Government. The Judge said there was no proof to link Nwajagu to such serious charge. But the Judge added a dampener which wiped the joy off Nwajagu and family and friends.

He found Nwajagu guilty of illegally parading himself as a certified Chief in Lagos State contrary to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.

That earned him a 12-month jail term. But having been kept in jail for about two years, the Judge said Nwajagu already served the jail time.

But that was no consolation to Nwajagu as the tag of an ex-convict has been added to his profile.

Fabian Onwughalu, a defence Counsel to Nwajagu said the judgment is at once painful and a victory for Ndigbo in Lagos, especially. He disclosed Nwajagu would go on appeal to quash the conviction.

He said: “We shall strive to set aside the conviction on parading himself as a Chief in Lagos State on appeal as the prosecution did not prove the offence to warrant the conviction.

“Moreover, the Eze Ndigbo institution is not recognised by the law of Lagos State, and so has nothing to do with the Oba and Chiefs Law.

“Also the conviction offends the fundamental rights of freedom of association of Ndigbo in Lagos State.

“I am happy to be among the Counsels in the defence team, who diligently offered their services pro bono.”

Unless the appeal is granted, Nwajagu remains an ex-convict, for according to a loyalist of his, “doing nothing wrong.”