Alleged terrorism: Court refuses Eze Ndigbo bail

<p>A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Friday, refused to grant bail to Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos State, Frederick Nwajagu, charged with terrorism.</p>, <p>According to Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the court is constrained to refuse Nwajagu’s bail application based on the seriousness of the alleged offence and the severity of its punishment.</p>, <p>Nwajagu is standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on attempt to commit terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism and meeting to support a proscribed entity.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant had, on July 25, applied for bail, citing his medical reports.</p>, <p>He said that he was not a flight risk.</p>, <p>On Friday, the judge denied the defendant bail and ordered accelerated hearing of the case.</p>, <p>Adesanya held: “Based on the seriousness of the offence, the severity of the punishment and the proof of evidence before the court, the court is constrained to refuse the bail application.</p>, <p>“The application for accelerated hearing is hereby granted.”</p>, <p>The judge, however, directed correctional centre officials to make an arrangement for the defendant to visit a public hospital for treatment.</p>, <p>At the last adjourned date, counsel to the defendant, Mr E. C. Obiagu (SAN), prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant on medical grounds.</p>, <p>He also told the court that the defendant was a widower and had six children and, therefore, would not jump bail.</p>, <p>Obiagu claimed that the defendant did not possess an international passport and would not be a flight risk.</p>, <p>The senior advocate os Nigeria also said that the defendant was granted bail by a lower court but was not able to perfect the bail due to its stringent conditions.</p>, <p>Responding, prosecution counsel, Mr Jonathan Ogunsanya, urged the court to refuse the bail application.</p>, <p>Ogunsanya, who is Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, however, urged the court to grant accelerat